Broncos 'buried' despite Manly star's rotten injury luck

Manly's Josh Aloiai has suffered another injury blow after he was ruled out of his side's clash with the Broncos in the first half. The Sea Eagles' prop played just 21 minutes before he left the field in discomfort. By half-time, his fate was confirmed with Manly ruling him out for the game. In round six against the Sharks, Aloiai suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out until this round (13). Earlier, the Sea Eagles went on a first-half blitz to continue the misery for Brisbane. Clayton Faulalo scored first in the fifth minute before Brisbane's Ezra Mam hit back. After Mam's try, it was all the Sea Eagles, though. Faulalo scored his second before Nathan Brown and Haumole Olakau'atu crossed the line to make it 22-6 at the break. Daly Cherry-Evans was the star in the first half, finishing with two try assists. After the break, it was all Manly again. Olakau'atu grabbed his second in the 70th minute before Tolutau Koula finished off a beautiful set play with minutes remaining. "They have buried the Broncos tonight. I wasn't expecting this," Greg Alexander said on Fox League. Manly finished 34-6 winners. The loss pushes the Broncos to 11th with Manly seventh on the ladder.

Manly slugger weighing up Super League move

Manly's Samoan Test forward Josh Aloiai could be headed for the Super League next season.Leigh Leopards, coached by former Sydney Roosters star Adrian Lam, are showing interest in the 27-year-old prop.Leigh are on a high after winning the Challenge Cup Final this year and are looking to boost their playing stocks.Aloiai has over 130 NRL games to his name with the Tigers and Sea Eagles and has also played five Tests for Samoa.He played 16 games for Manly this season and is under contract until the end of 2025 but the club is prepared to grant him a release.The Sea Eagles are top-heavy with forwards after signing Aitasi James (Wests Tigers) and Corey Waddell (Bulldogs) for next season, and Josh Schuster is set to move into the pack from five-eighth.

Manly's Aloiai adds support to NRL-wide Respect Round

Manly prop Josh Aloiai has backed the idea of a Respect Round, giving the first indication he would be prepared to play if such a fixture was inserted into the NRL's calendar.Aloiai created headlines last year when he was one of seven Sea Eagles who refused to wear the club's rainbow jersey on religious grounds.The drama marked the beginning of the end for coach Des Hasler, as Manly lost their last seven games and spiralled out of finals contention.Aloiai said in October he would still not wear a pride jersey in 2023, as Manly flirted with the idea of rolling out a similar strip this year.But the 27-year-old is open to a league-wide Respect Round.The idea was floated by ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys as far back as last November, when he told AAP respect for other people's views was not a political issue."There are ways you can do it where you don't upset anyone," V'landys said at the time."If we do it, we have to have the format to do it the right way. It's all about respecting each other."We have to respect that (some people) have a different view to the rest of us."The most important thing in my eyes is we're all equal, it doesn't matter what colour, what creed or sexual orientation."No such round has yet been confirmed for this year's schedule, but it remains possible the NRL could include it later in the season."I really like that idea, it's a really good idea," Aloiai said this week.

I won't wear pride jersey in 2023: Aloiai

Manly forward Josh Aloiai says he won't wear a Sea Eagles pride jersey in 2023 if the club seeks to revisit the introduction of a pro-LGBTQI playing shirt next season.Aloiai was one of seven players who, citing religious beliefs, refused to play in Manly's round 20 game with the Sydney Roosters after the club unveiled an "Everyone In League" jersey.Club owner Scott Penn said the club would look into introducing a rainbow jersey next season, despite the fact it derailed their NRL season and culminated in the sacking of Des Hasler.The 'Manly seven' were sheltered from the media but now many are on international duty they have begun to speak out.Aloiai followed teammates Tolatau Koula and Haumole Olakau'atu in explaining his reasoning for this stance.He said he and his Manly teammates had received death threats but would not waiver in their beliefs."The short answer is no, I won't (play in a pride jersey)," he told the Nine Network.

Manly's unsung hero sparks another victory

Samoan international prop Josh Aloiai is developing into one of the big improvers in the early stages of the 2022 season.For two weeks in a row, the 'no frills' prop has led the Manly forwards in yardage as well as pulling off some bone-rattling hits.The 26-year-old middle forward ran for 152 metres in the heavy conditions against Newcastle last Thursday night, a week after grinding out 195 metres against Canberra.Aloiai is leading the way for Manly and it's no co-incidence they won both games after their poor start to the season in the opening two rounds.