League legend Paul Sironen has slammed Manly over the way the club treated his son Curtis in his final year with the club this season.
Sironen ended five successful seasons on a sour note, playing just six games before being told he was free to leave and signing a two year deal with English giants St Helens.
But the talented back-rower was plagued by a knee injury throughout the season and was at odds with the training and medical staff, his father revealed.
READ MORE: Stars praised after helping save fans life at EPL match
READ MORE: Wallabies star to miss entire spring tour
“Curtis could feel his knee just wasn’t right but the club were short staffed at the start of season and basically guilted him into playing,” said dad Paul, a former Balmain, NSW and Kangaroos star.
“He broke down as a result early in the season and it ruined his whole year.
“The surgery found four pieces of floating bone in the knee and it kept causing him problems – he had to have it drained three times over the course of the year.
“Then late in the season they said they would give him a farewell game against the Bulldogs – they won easily but he sat most of the game on the bench and got just seven minutes.
“I’m dirty on the way he was treated – it wasn’t right and there was little thought given to his welfare.”
Sironen started his career at the Tigers – where his dad played two grand finals – before switching to Manly in 2017.
The 28-year-old will now attempt to pick up the pieces of his career with St Helens in Super League next season.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!