New Zealand’s rugby league team could be in the right place at the right time to challenge the All Blacks for sporting dominance in Aotearoa – with Kiwis star Joey Manu backing the team to boost the profile of the sport with a win the UK in November.
With the All Blacks struggling on the field, the Black Caps on a downward turn and the flagbearers for league in the country, the New Zealand Warriors, finally home after three years in exile, the stage is set for unprecedented cut-through for rugby league in New Zealand.
“I hope so,” he said when asked by The Roar‘s Rugby League World Cup podcast, World Cup Chasers, if the stage was set to take on the ABs.
“Rugby is always pretty dominant over in New Zealand, but if we do what we set out to achieve then it’ll definitely bring a bit of light onto New Zealand rugby league and where we want the game to head.
“In New Zealand, there’s a lot of talent and a lot of younger kids playing. If we do that, we can see what we can do, it’ll make it a lot bigger.”
Manu is one of the code’s biggest stars and will be the talisman for the Kiwis, where he will start at the back instead of his usual berth in the centres with the Sydney Roosters, where Kangaroos fullback James Tedesco has a hold on the number 1 jersey.
Manu missed the Roosters’ final game of the season with a calf injury but will be back fit and firing for the World Cup.
He was the undisputed star of the Kiwis’ midseason win over Tonga, which marked the return of elite rugby league to New Zealand after a long Covid-induced hiatus.
The fullback was joined in the spine by the Melbourne Storm duo of halfback Jahrome Hughes and hooker Brandon Smith, plus one of the breakout stars of the 2022 NRL, Parramatta five eighth Dylan Brown, for one of the best playmaking combinations in international footy.
“I enjoy playing fullback,” he said. “It’s one of the most dominant roles in the game at the moment and you get a lot of touches on the ball. You create plays.
“In the Kiwis jersey, it’s pretty special because there’s a lot of other good players in the spine and it’s good team to run on the back of.
“(Coach Michael Maguire) talks about our spine and keeping it strong. If you look at the other players, with Brandon playing around the middle and the other two at the top of their positions in the comp this year, I think it’s key.”
The unique draw of the Rugby League World Cup for NRL stars who don’t get to play State of Origin will be the chance to square off against mates – with Manu and Roosters’ teammate Luke Keary set for a date in the group stages as New Zealand taking on Ireland.
“He’s already spoken about playing for Ireland so it’ll be a nice warm up game!” joked Manu. “I’m looking forward to it, we have a few boys playing for different teams and I think it’ll be cool playing overseas and catching up after the game.”
World Cup Chasers is our new Rugby League World Cup podcast and will be released weekly all the way through to the final at Old Trafford in November.
It features exclusive interviews, plus expert analysis from The Roar rugby league writers Mike Meehall Wood and Mary Konstantopolous, as well as Michael Carbone from Chasing Kangaroos, the original international rugby league podcast.
Mactruck
Roar Rookie
You are delusional. Not in my life time
Albo
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Birdy
Roar Rookie
If you believe that you must have been hit by a truck
Womblat
Guest
To the hilt. NZ look the best this year as they have since the Sorensen/Graham days.
kk
Roar Pro
Hard Yards & Birdy...Commission material. (ARLC)
vonManstein
Roar Rookie
No they aren't Steve. And never will be, unless they can somehow conjure about 5 world cup wins in a row! Not gunna happen.
Muzz
Guest
I like Joey's optimism. Hopefully the Warriors improve next season. Their fans deserve some joy!
Tom
Guest
Proud of and support both teams. And always hope warriors will have a win. Black caps had a good trot but depth will be tested and the players have to play those extra few years to get the next group through. Nothing better than a kiwi draw after being flogged the game before. As usual an expat usually kills us.
Brian Westlake
Roar Rookie
That is the funniest thing I have read all year.
Mactruck
Roar Rookie
Keep dreaming. The sleeping giant is union in Australia
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Well said fiwiboy… :thumbup:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I have done that once before, but realised before it was read… :thumbup:
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
I think Joey just failed his HIA with those comments. The issues with the game of RL in NZ are structural (much like rugby union in Australia). RL in NZ still receives govt funding, I believe). When I lived in Auckland in 2013, I went down to a nearby light business estate and it took me a while to realise I was in Carlaw Park; it has hotels and accommodation and some light business. The ABs are entrenched (thankfully) but they will be room to cheer the Kiwis on at the RLWC. They just need to step up and get the work done. That's the standard the ABs are held to, and the realisation that they are not doing that is cause for angst.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
( posted to the wrong article)
Tim J
Roar Rookie
No problem mate, it was more to do with saying that he must be still suffering from concussion. All good as we have got on well, and I respect your honesty… :thumbup:
Succhi
Roar Rookie
No disrespect intended Tim.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Brilliant HY, I bow to the great one.. :stoked: :thumbup:
Jarum
Guest
RL has a much higher profile in NZ than it does in Melbourne - which is not hard to believe since so many NRL players are Kiwis
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
I guarantee that if even I were to put an AB jersey on, 5% of the more mature Kiwi ladies would be up for it. In 10,000 years time there will a pantheon of gods on the Shaky Isles, and they will have come to NZ from Heaven to play Rugby for New Zealand. And they shall pay homage to them, and make sacrifices.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
To be honest that is a disrespectful post, as he is correct about the significance of winning the WC on youngsters and others. The Warriors are not a widely supported team in NZ compared to Rugby and cricket on a significant scale. NZ and PI players have and are still making their mark for other NRL teams, NZ cannot compete with other teams financially to keep our younger talent! That is just a fact that NZ deals with.