Canterbury tyro Josh Reynolds has hit back at claims he played for the match-winning penalty in Friday night’s NRL win over Manly, saying “I’m no diver”.

Manly’s Glenn Stewart was penalised for a lifting tackle during extra-time of the 32-30 loss to the Bulldogs, though replays appeared to show Reynolds contributing to the way he landed.

Bulldogs halfback Trent Hodkinson slotted the match-winning penalty goal from the resultant kick, prompting a despondent Manly coach Geoff Toovey to say Reynolds had conned the referees.

Manly forward Anthony Watmough backed up his coach’s claim on Monday by saying Reynolds “knows he did” the wrong thing.

But the 24-year-old, who will be Watmough’s NSW teammate for State of Origin game two on June 26, slammed any suggestion he had milked the penalty.

When told Watmough had accused him of some acrobatics to earn the penalty, Reynolds said: “So has everyone else mate – that’s just how it is.

“Obviously it looked like I jumped, but Glenn Stewart was trying to sweep my leg. What do I do? Just stand there and take the tackle?

“I wanted to get a quick play-the-ball for the boys so we could maybe pot a field goal or get on the front foot.

“I was just doing what’s best for the team.”

Reynolds took exception to being labelled a diver, but said that didn’t extend to worrying about how he would be perceived from now on.

“There’s no way I’d dive,” he said.

“I’ve been playing for a couple of years now and I don’t think I’ve ever done anything like that.

“Whatever people want to think of me, I’m sweet with it.”