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Clinton labelled a bad sport
By Dean Ritchie
MANLY five-eighth Travis Burns has branded Penrith prop Joel Clinton as "childish" and a "bad sport" for squirting him with water while lining up Sunday's match-winning penalty goal.
Burns confirmed last night Clinton sprayed the contents of a water bottle at him in the dying stages of Manly's dramatic 32-30 win over the Panthers at Brookvale Oval. Burns nailed the goal but there was talk in the Manly dressing room after the game the club would have demanded another kick at goal because of Clinton's actions had Burns' attempt missed.
"He was squirting me as I moved in for the kick but it didn't really put me off," Burns said.
"It was a bit of bad sportsmanship, a bit childish but I just laughed at him.
"I don't know if it would have been re-taken but it didn't matter in the end."
Burns claimed he laughed at Clinton's pre-match public taunt at the Sea Eagles, claiming the Panthers forwards wanted to "bash" Manly.
"The joke is on him really," Burns said.
"He was saying he was going to smash everyone and he spent most of the time on his back.
"He talked it up before the game but our forwards handled him pretty well."
Clinton was unavailable for comment yesterday but Panthers coach John Lang said he was surprised at Burns' claim.
"If Joel was back 10 metres it must have been a bloody good squirt," Lang said.
"It must have been a super-charged water bottle.
"But I don't know anything about it.
"I'd like to look at the video to see if it's right."
Manly was also privately angry at Penrith fullback Rhys Wesser throwing his arms around while Burns took the crucial kick.
Penrith was yesterday still bewildered at throwing away a 24-6 half-time lead to allow Manly a late victory.
"I think we played for only 20 minutes," Lang said.
"They had the better of us in the first 20 minutes, we smashed them in the second 20 minutes and they had the better of the (second half) ... the game was there to be won."
Meanwhile, Manly's injured representative centre Steve Bell is expected to return for Saturday night's game against Parramatta at Parramatta Stadium.
By Dean Ritchie
MANLY five-eighth Travis Burns has branded Penrith prop Joel Clinton as "childish" and a "bad sport" for squirting him with water while lining up Sunday's match-winning penalty goal.
Burns confirmed last night Clinton sprayed the contents of a water bottle at him in the dying stages of Manly's dramatic 32-30 win over the Panthers at Brookvale Oval. Burns nailed the goal but there was talk in the Manly dressing room after the game the club would have demanded another kick at goal because of Clinton's actions had Burns' attempt missed.
"He was squirting me as I moved in for the kick but it didn't really put me off," Burns said.
"It was a bit of bad sportsmanship, a bit childish but I just laughed at him.
"I don't know if it would have been re-taken but it didn't matter in the end."
Burns claimed he laughed at Clinton's pre-match public taunt at the Sea Eagles, claiming the Panthers forwards wanted to "bash" Manly.
"The joke is on him really," Burns said.
"He was saying he was going to smash everyone and he spent most of the time on his back.
"He talked it up before the game but our forwards handled him pretty well."
Clinton was unavailable for comment yesterday but Panthers coach John Lang said he was surprised at Burns' claim.
"If Joel was back 10 metres it must have been a bloody good squirt," Lang said.
"It must have been a super-charged water bottle.
"But I don't know anything about it.
"I'd like to look at the video to see if it's right."
Manly was also privately angry at Penrith fullback Rhys Wesser throwing his arms around while Burns took the crucial kick.
Penrith was yesterday still bewildered at throwing away a 24-6 half-time lead to allow Manly a late victory.
"I think we played for only 20 minutes," Lang said.
"They had the better of us in the first 20 minutes, we smashed them in the second 20 minutes and they had the better of the (second half) ... the game was there to be won."
Meanwhile, Manly's injured representative centre Steve Bell is expected to return for Saturday night's game against Parramatta at Parramatta Stadium.
