Manly v Newcastle: Kalyn Ponga brilliance helps Knights edge wounded Sea Eagles 18-12
PAGING Mr Hastings. Manly may be left with no choice but to recall banished five-eighth Jackson Hastings after rookie No.6 Lachlan Croker suffered a potential season-ending knee injury against Newcastle.
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PAGING Mr Hastings.
Manly may be left with no choice but to recall banished five-eighth Jackson Hastings after rookie No.6 Lachlan Croker suffered a season-ending knee injury in a shock 18-12 loss to Newcastle on Friday night.
Croker hurt his left knee nine minutes before halftime and failed to return.
It’s a shattering blow for the Goulburn-born half, who now faces his third ACL reconstruction.
In a further blow, rising back-rower Jack Gosiewski could have broken his hand.
This leaves the salary cap restricted Sea Eagles with 21 top-grade players to select from an original squad of 28.
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It could force Manly to select Hastings, who last week was dropped to the NSW Intrust Premiership because teammates refused to play with him.
The ex-Dragons and Roosters playmaker had been shopped around for an immediate release, but may find himself answering an SOS from Manly.
All eyes will now be on Hastings, who lines-up for Blacktown against Canterbury at Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday from 3.15pm.
Manly coach Trent Barrett refused to rule out giving Hastings a first grade reprieve in the coming weeks.
Barrett said the club will discuss their halves shortage early next week, while he confirmed he wouldn’t shift hooker Api Koroisau.
“Look, we’ll consider that on Monday,” Barrett said.
“At this stage, Mickey Mouse might be considered.
“If I don’t laugh, I’ll cry at the moment.
“But there are a couple of things we can do. We have two spots available. We are not going to be able to go out and buy Johnathan Thurston or Michael Morgan, but we’ll make a decision on what we think may work.”
Barrett felt particularly disappointed for Croker, whose season is over.
“The poor kid is shattered,” he said.
“He has had a few of them already. I thought he was probably playing his best game for the club early on. He looked really good.”
The disappointing loss to Newcastle heaps pressure on the under-siege Sea Eagles, who have endured a forgettable fortnight.
From poor off-field behaviour to performance, Manly can’t escape the headlines.
Despite this, Barrett is remaining positive.
“We are just not getting any luck at the moment,” he lamented.
“But in terms of effort I thought it was extremely courageous from the team.
“If you wanted to see that the team was together, I think that was a pretty good example of it.
“It has been extremely difficult. I’m a half glass full sort of person and I can take a lot of positives out of how hard they fought for each other.”
Newcastle deserves full praise for a win that ended their seven-game losing stretch against Manly at Brookvale Oval dating back to 2006.
Star fullback Kalyn Ponga was brilliant for the Knights. Ponga set-up the match-winning try for winger Nathan Ross with four minutes remaining.
The six-point victory is even more impressive when you consider the Knights are without prized off-season recruit Mitchell Pearce due to a pec injury.
Newcastle have now beaten the Sea Eagles twice this season following Pearce’s golden point heroics in round one.
Knights coach Nathan Brown was rapt with the win.
“It was a huge effort from the guys,” Brown said.
“To be able to come here, hang in there and then find a way to win was great.
“We’ve got some more experienced players in the club now, who have been at clubs that know how to win and hang in games.
“That is certainly having an effect on our younger blokes.”