‘Massive, massive loss’ could derail Roosters finals campaign

The Sydney Roosters won their first match at the new Allianz Stadium but the result may have come at the cost of their entire season.

Brutal scenes for any Roosters fan. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

A fiery appetiser has set up a mouth-watering main course after the Sydney Roosters claimed a 26-16 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs to lock up sixth place on the NRL ladder.

The teams are set to play again next week in an elimination final, unless the Raiders can defeat the Wests Tigers by 113 points — which would be an all-time competition record.

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The Roosters were dominant throughout and led 26-6 when Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell was sin binned with 10 minutes remaining, only for Souths to score twice in quick succession.

But the victory could prove costly after star centre Joey Manu left the ground 20 minutes from time with an apparent calf injury.

Manu pulled up lame from one tackle but launched into another on one leg after the injury.

After the game, Roosters coach Trent Robinson said it was a calf but was not sure about how serious it was.

“He was pretty clear he had to come off, and it doesn’t look great,” Robinson said.

There are plenty of other concerns with Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves lasted just 14 minutes, while Sam Verrills suffered a hand injury.

Robinson said he had to stop Waerea-Hargraves from going back out and wrapping him in cotton wool for next week, while he said Verrills was alright after the match.

But the main concern was for Manu, who had injured the same calf earlier in the season.

Joey Manu knew immediately. Photo: Fox Sports

For Brisbane great Corey Parker, the loss of Manu was enough to draw a line through the Roosters’ season.

“It gives you the suggestion that he has done his calf quite bad. Straight away, he did the whole look to the sideline then he just ironed out Cody Walker,” Parker said on Fox League.

“He’s huge, a huge loss in my opinion, Joey Manu. I’ve got him as one of – or my favourite player in the game.

“He’s so much of an influence for this Roosters outfit. I’d nearly go (so far as) to say they couldn’t go any further without him. That’s a bold statement, that is a bold statement.

He’s a terrific player. I saw in the last ten minutes the way Souths were able to sort of identify the lack of speed through (Drew) Hutchison out on the edge there and they were able to expose him. Interesting how it all unfolds over the next week, but a massive, massive loss.”

Cooper Cronk said the injury “looked like a bad one”, adding the way he reacted to the injury “looked quite serious”.

The Rabbitohs were also impacted after captain Cameron Murray was also taken off with a head injury after an ugly tackle attempt in the opening minutes of the match.

“I’m all good. I don’t think it was a KO. I got my timing a bit wrong,” Murray said after the game. “I’ll rest up, I’ll go through the protocols and I think I’ll be okay next week. There’s nothing I can do so there’s no point stressing.

“I just try to not over-think stuff and do my job as best I can. We’ve got a lot of good professionals looking after us so I trust them.”

Souths hooker Siliva Havili also failed a HIA.

After a physical clash and late omissions with plenty of stars to return, it is already expected to be a difference clash when the teams face off next week.

Originally published as ‘Massive, massive loss’ could derail Roosters finals campaign