Roosters’ Joseph Manu reveals his PlayStation habit, Mitch Pearce gets excited and Fiji get paid
WHAT did Sydney Rooster Joseph Manu get for his 40-hour-a-week PlayStation habit? PLUS, Mitch Pearce’s excitement and Fiji get paid.
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WHAT do you do when you have a 40-hour-a-week PlayStation habit? Get a hug from new teammate Cooper Cronk.
There could be hundreds of captions for this photo of Cronk showing Sydney Rooster Joseph Manu some man love.
So when we asked Manu what the deal was, we didn’t expect his answer.
“We had the weekend off, so he asked me ‘how much PlayStation did you play over the weekend?’,’’ Manu said.
“I’ve been playing this game called Fortnite. It’s a Battle Royale game.
“I couldn’t tell you how much I play it. The coach might get angry.’’
Manu later told us he’d often spend north of 40 hours a week on his PS.
The 21-year-old is another reason Chooks fans are excited, with the towering centre to pose a huge threat on the right side of the field as Latrell Mitchell carves up at left centre.
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KNIGHTS A NEW DAY FOR MITCH
MITCHELL Pearce is bursting with excitement as he gets set to officially start life as a Newcastle Knight, and his best years are definitely ahead of him.
That was the verdict from his proud and famous father Wayne who will make the first of many long trips up the M1 Motorway to watch the Pearce-led Knights open their season against Manly.
“Six months ago you wouldn’t have expected this but things happen quickly in rugby league,’’ Pearce told Sport Confidential.
“He’s excited, I’m excited for him, and we’ll be up there cheering him on.
“He’s always been a passionate kid, and this has been a new lease of life for him, a new challenge, and the captaincy is a big plus for him.
“If you look at all the halfbacks, they start to blossom at the back end of the 20s, it’s a position that takes a long time to master. I think his best years are ahead of him.’’
Not just because his son was now involved with Newcastle, but Wayne expected them to be the big improvers and even sneak into September.
Given the big kilometres Wayne will rack up travelling back and forth to Newcastle — as opposed to the short trek to watch Mitch run around for the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium — we asked the Balmain legend if his 28-year-old son was prepared to dig deep and arrange for a fuel card.
“I was hoping for a helicopter,’’ Pearce said.
BATI FINALLY GET THEIR DUES
FIJIAN players look set to be finally paid their World Cup money, more than 100 days after their shock semi-final appearance against the Kangaroos.
But the players will continue to boycott any future Tests until a couple of heads roll at board level, said Wests Tigers centre and Bati skipper Kevin Naiqama.
Naiqama was due to meet on Thursday with Rugby League International Federation representative Tas Baiteri who finally received the players cash.
Each player is expected to receive a tick over $3000.
Naiqama said the players would only make themselves available when Fiji National Rugby League boss Timoci Naleba and chairman Filimoni Vosarogo stood down.
“We feel like with them at the helm we won’t grow or move forward,’’ Naiqama said.
Naiqama and Jarryd Hayne posed for a promotional photo to be used for the Pacific Tests later this year, but will not budge on their demands.
COWAN LOOKS BACK
RETIRING Test batsman Ed Cowan said some of the funniest moments during his career involved fellow retiree quick bowler Doug Bollinger.
Like the time big Doug caused a panic when he stuck a fork into a toaster.
Doug saw the response from Blues teammate Grant Lambert and agreed to put the fork down.
“Then Doug picked up a knife,’’ Cowan said.
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Cowan said Kurtis Patterson, the 24-year-old who has racked up three half-centuries in his past three Sheffield Shield games, was destined to wear the baggy green.
“He’s only 24 but has the maturity of a 30-year-old, he’s consistent, has a great game and is only getting better,’’ Cowan told us.
“I see opportunities being afforded to lesser players around the country, so he’s one guy I can’t understand doesn’t get more of an opportunity.’’
Cowan also had a big opinion of 19-year-old spinner Param Uppal, and backed Alex Carey to be ‘’Australia’s greatest ever Test wicketkeeper’’.
“With great respect to a friend of mine, Tim Paine, who is doing fantastic job, but we have a guy there who could be 15-year legend of the game,’’ said Cowan, in reference to 26-year-old South African Carey.
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EXPECT Shane Watson to sign off on a new deal with the Sydney Thunder that could be for two more summers, not one.
Watto is in Dubai playing in the Pakistan Super League, and despite attracting interest from another BBL franchise, is tipped to put pen to paper with the Thunder upon his return.
Originally published as Roosters’ Joseph Manu reveals his PlayStation habit, Mitch Pearce gets excited and Fiji get paid
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