Kiwi Sydney Roosters star Joseph Manu's NRL season looks to be over courtesy of a horror high shot from South Sydney Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell.
In the 58th minute of the Roosters' 54-12 loss on Friday, Manu was floored by a shoulder charge to the head from Mitchell, leaving him with a suspected fractured cheekbone.
The incident left Manu seething, as he walked across the field to confront the NSW State of Origin star, resulting in a scuffle between the two sides.
Mitchell was sent for a 10-minute spell in the sin bin, but with his priors he faces a lengthy ban from the match review committee.
The severity of Manu's injury became instantly clear, as his eye and cheek swelled up. After the game, he was immediately transported to hospital.
"[Mitchell] plays on the edge and that is what makes him a great player to watch," Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.
"I'm angry at him for that incident. I absolutely love him and I'll say frustrated at that point because he's just cost one of his good mates the rest of the season and fractured his cheekbone."
"It's not on. It really hurts. But also Latrell plays the game a certain way and it frustrates opposition fans and it would've frustrated ours but we got to enjoy him for a long period of time.
"But you can't hit someone with that much force and not suffer the circumstances."
The Rabbitohs now seem destined to be without their blockbusting centre for at least the early stages of the upcoming NRL finals. Mitchell has already served four weeks for dangerous contact on Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma earlier this year.
The 25-year-old from Tokoroa will be one of the most in-demand free agents in the NRL when his contract expires at the end of next year, with NZ Warriors among his multitude of suitors.
