CARL Manu may be on water-boy duties for the rest of the Shute Shield season but the evergreen Wildfires centre is not ready to hang up the boots just yet.
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Manu had a plate and screws inserted in his right arm after breaking the radius and fracturing his wrist attempting to tackle former Parramatta Eel Tepai Moeroa in the Wildfires' breakthrough 28-15 win over Western Sydney on Saturday.
"He made a big run the first time and I said to Taulogo [Lalaga], we have to cut this guy down," Manu said. "He ran straight towards me and then kind of shifted and caught my arm. I played on for a little bit and was trying to shake it off. Once play stopped I went down and [physio] Ben Mahon came out. I felt OK but I couldn't grip his hand. My wife and I drove straight back to Newcastle. I went to the John Hunter Hospital Saturday night and Michael Dan did the surgery Monday. It was unfortunate but you just have to move on. The guys got a win so it wasn't all bad."
Manu will miss the Wildfires' final four games but the 37-year-old intends to play again next season, either for the Wildfires or University in the local competition.
"It will be water-boy duties for me for the next few weeks," he said. "I have spoken to Bubba (coach Scott Coleman) and (assistant coach) Liam Waker and they are keen for me to stay involved. Even if it is just working with some of the young guys in the midfield.
"In terms of next year, I'm keen to go again. This is the best I have felt in a long time. I wasn't sure where I was going to be at body-wise. Apart from this knock, everything was going really well and I felt like I was playing some good footy.
"If the Wildfires go ahead and Bubba sees me as part of the squad, I would definitely look at it. It also depends on what happens with local footy."
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