Joey Manu is no certainty to be fit to start the NRL season for the Sydney Roosters, with coach Trent Robinson conceding his facial fracture is touch and go for round one.
Considered by many to be one of the genuine premiership favourites, the Roosters have endured a horror end to the pre-season with a run of injuries to big-name stars.
Those dramas continued on Friday night with young gun Joseph Suaalii failing a concussion test in their loss to Manly, leaving officials waiting to see how he recovers.
A fortnight out from round one, Luke Keary (jaw) and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (back) were both forced to sit out their trial matches, while Sam Walker was sidelined with COVID.
While the trio will all be fit for their season opener against the Dolphins on March 5, the Roosters are less confident on Manu.
The Kiwi star was hurt while in an opposed session before the All-Stars clash, and while the facial fracture was not large enough to require a plate he is no certainty to return in a fortnight.
“He’s not definitely back (for round one),” Robinson said.
“It was four weeks with that, which will be close. Four weeks will be round one from when he did it.
“It will be doctor’s advice, another scan to see if he’s going to be right. I’m not trying to downplay it – he will be touch and go for round one.”
Manu and Suaalii have the potential to form the most lethal centre pairing in the NRL this year, particularly if given the freedom to roam through the middle of the field with fullback James Tedesco.
But as far as Robinson is concerned, there are many basics in the Roosters attack that must be sorted before then.
While impressed by Victor Radley and the way his forwards moved the ball through the middle in both trials, Robinson was concerned by a lack of cohesion against Manly with his halves out.
Also important will be getting more time into Suaalii at centre than the 18 minutes he managed against Manly.
Friday night’s head knock when trying to tackle Manly powerhouse Haumole Olakau’atu limited his time there, while he did not play in the Roosters’ first trial win over Melbourne.
“It would have been great to see him last week and this week get more time there, but he’s looked very comfortable in the pre-season,” Robinson said.
“We have to do it against an opposition now.
“He’s had to learn some different traits there.
“Playing on the right side, he has a right-arm carry, but his ability to play both sides of the ball, which he had to do at fullback at the World Cup (with Samoa).
“His quality allows him to move to whichever side.”
The Roosters are also already without Connor Watson and Sitili Tupouniua for the opening stages of the season, as both battle to return from serious knee injuries.
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