NRL 2022: Joseph Manu injury forces Roosters backline reshuffle
The Roosters’ premiership campaign has been dealt a huge blow with fears star centre Joseph Manu won’t play again this year.
NRL
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Paul Momirovski, Oliver Gildart and Joseph Suaalii have emerged as lead candidates to fill the enormous void of Roosters sensation Joseph Manu.
In a massive blow to the Roosters premiership campaign, club officials fear Manu won’t play again this year due to a calf injury suffered on Friday night.
The Kiwi Test international underwent scans on Saturday with the Roosters coaching staff preparing for Manu to be ruled out for three to six weeks with a mid-grade calf tear.
Manu told teammates after the match he felt a “pop” in his calf.
Adding to the misery surrounding Manu is that the Roosters will also be without NSW State of Origin winger Daniel Tupou for their elimination final clash with South Sydney at Allianz Stadium next weekend.
Tupou has a groin injury that saw him sit out last Friday night‘s win over South Sydney.
His best hope is that the Roosters can replicate their win over the Rabbitohs and be available for week two of the finals.
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Roosters coach Trent Robinson‘s task will be to find replacements for both Manu and Tupou.
Neither Momirovski, Gildart or Suaalii have vast experience in the right centre position that Manu has made his own.
Capable of playing on the wing and at centre, Momirovski has a marginal advantage in experience at right centre with starts in the position in rounds one and 19 this season.
Gildart, a late-season buy from the Wests Tigers, is a preferred left centre, but has big-match experience having represented England and Great Britain.
The big call would be to shift rising star Suaalii from the right wing to centre, a task that few would be willing to deny the impressive teen couldn’t handle.
In more positive injury news for the Roosters, prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (hamstring) and Sam Verrills (finger) are expected to be available for the do-or-die final.
The Roosters’ arch-rivals are also sweating on the fitness of their biggest names, with Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou boasting confidence that his side can be at “full strength”.
Demetriou, currently in covid isolation, said captain Cameron Murray had already begun his concussion protocols in order to be cleared for the blockbuster final.
Murray lasted just one minute after suffering a head knock in the Rabbitohs 26-16 loss against the Roosters on Friday night.
Having already experienced a category one head knock this year, Murray must seek approval from an independent doctor to gain clearance.
“At this time of the year, you want to get into the finals and have your best players playing,” Demetriou said on Triple M on Saturday.
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“And come Sunday, I’m pretty confident we’ll have a full strength team.
“Cam has pulled up really well this morning, he hasn’t had any symptoms and neither has Siliva Havili, so that’s good news.
“Hame Sele just got a fine from his lifting tackle and Damien Cook (covid) and Campbell Graham (HIA) will be good to go, so come Sunday we’ll be at full strength.
“There‘s a six-day protocol so he’ll (Murray) start that today.
“We’ll have our main training session on Thursday, so he’ll train in that session..
“If he wakes up in three days time and he’s got some signs and symptoms he’ll start again.
“There’ll be no cutting corners by us, it will be done 100 per cent by the book.’’
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