The NRL is highly unlikely to allow Joey Manu to flit between a Roosters deal and a Japanese rugby contract if he tries to do double duty in the future.
But it’s going to happen eventually. And if any club could make it work, it would be the Roosters.
The ARL Commission, engaged in an ongoing battle of throwing barbs at rugby in the media, would be 100-1 to grant any NRL player, let alone a star like Manu, permission to play rugby in Japan or anywhere else during a registered long-term NRL contract.
But there would be nothing stopping Manu and the Roosters from annually signing short-term deals so that he effectively becomes a free agent then returns to the club midway through the next season after he fills his bank account with yen from a Japanese rugby stint.
And it would annoy the other 16 clubs and their suspicious fans even more because the Roosters could then effectively get a discount on Manu’s services.
The annual NRL contracts kick off on November 1 and players have their salaries split evenly over those 12 months whether they’re in pre-season training or in the middle of the competition.
That means that, in theory, if Manu played Japanese rugby from December to May, he could sign a short-term deal on pro rata rates for the rest of the season.
The NRL Salary Cap team would have to sign off on the deal and the Roosters would have to pay what is considered “market rate” for one of the best players in the sport for the rest of that year.
St George Illawarra pulled off a similar move in July of 2010 when Mark Gasnier made a return to the NRL from a French rugby stint and played a key part in the club’s charge to the premiership.
Manu could possibly earn more than $2 million by doing double time between the codes in 2025 after his current Roosters contract runs out at the end of next season.
It’s doubtful whether he could do this switcheroo on an ongoing basis but it’s not out of the realms of possibility.
And whether you’re a fan of Roosters supremo Nick Politis or not, he commands loyalty from players who find it hard to play against the club once they bunker down at Bondi.
Joseph Manu. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Sonny Bill Williams returned from his All Blacks stint and Joseph Suaalii is believed to have an understanding that if he ever returns from his Wallabies sojourn that he will give the Roosters first option on his services.
The idea behind Manu’s potential two-in-one code scheme is not new – Gasnier and the Dragons tested the waters with the NRL before he went to France and Benji Marshall explored a similar manoeuvre during his prime at the Wests Tigers.
A current NRL player actually did this union-league meal deal last year.
Storm centre Young Tonumaipea started 2022 with the Melbourne Rebels and played five games in Super Rugby before his contract expired.
He then switched his Google Maps on training days to Melbourne Storm headquarters and played out the rest of the year in the NRL.
Young the veteran did enough during that short stint to earn a new deal with the Storm and surprisingly supplanted Justin Olam in the starting side last season.
Manu, as a marquee player, is a different kettle of fish to a journeyman like Tonumaipea but the point is it can be done.
And a few decades ago, Australian rugby league players and their British counterparts regularly played in each competition back when the UK season was played in the northern winter.
Eels stars Brett Kenny – at Wigan – and Peter Sterling – during a stint with Hull – famously squared off against each other in the 1985 Challenge Cup final, playing out the English season before returning in May (perhaps that’s why that was the only time in a six-year run that Parra didn’t make the Grand Final).
Steve Rogers, John Dorahy, Steve Ella, Mal Meninga, John Ferguson were among the many other Aussies who boosted their coffers with UK coin in the off-season while stars such as Ellery Hanley, Garry Schofield, Andy Gregory and Martin Offiah did likewise with short-term stints Down Under.
The likely scenario for Manu is that if he does not sign elsewhere after his current deal expires and heads off to Japan for a six-month pay-off, the 2022 Golden Boot winner would sign a long-term deal at the Roosters upon his return.
It’s no secret that the Kiwi international wants to play fullback and 2025 is the final year of James Tedesco’s contract – he will be 33 by the time the following season rolls around so the skipper could be retiring or looking at a superannuation kick-starter also known as a Super League contract to finish his career.
Or perhaps Teddy could try his hand at Japanese rugby too. There’s an old Wallabies coach over there these days who loves the NRL and would love to see Tedesco, Manu or any number of league recruits lifting the standard of the domestic competition.
Good Grief
Roar Rookie
Remembering Manu’s brilliant performance in the 2018 Kiwi’s win over the Kangaroos. I must have watched him create the try for Rapana 50 times, individual brilliance. Anything that keeps him playing in the NRL is great. Even better if this works as a short term salary cap juggle that allows another champion player and outstanding Roosters club captain to retire on his own terms. I hope this works out for the best for Manu and for the club. Id much rather see this successful than see Manu squeezed out of the club, or other loyal players sacrificed due to short term salary cap pressures.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No. Cat B is players who would become eligible if they stay. They may not. This doesn't change that.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
but is the NRL team not going to have the contract already signed for when the player comes back. Its not like the player will finish the J1 season and then sign a contract. Look at SBW everyone knew where he was going well before he actually got on the field.
Slammin_Sam
Roar Rookie
I haven't checked but I would assume this story started with news Ltd so may have little facts attached. Club and player not saying much. I reckon it's a stretch....
CPM
Roar Rookie
Only if they live in Japan for 5 years. Their category would be M for mercenary so most Japanese teams would reject them.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Most would be Cat B
Pedro
Roar Rookie
NRL players may not be in great demand in Japan, as there is a quota for foreign-born players: • Category A: Players who are either Japanese in origin, have met World Rugby residency requirements, or hold a Japanese passport. Each team must have 40 of these players or they should make up 80% of the playing roster. • Category B: Players who are not Japanese and do not hold Japanese passports but are uncapped by their nation of birth. These players will become Category A players once they have lived in Japan long enough to meet World Rugby residency requirements that would make them eligible to represent Japan. • Category C: Players capped by foreign nations, and therefore ineligible for Japan. Each team is allowed a maximum of nine Category B and C players, but their combined total cannot exceed 20% of the playing roster.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I think Manu is one guy who would have been very good at Union. perhaps a 12 or 13 as he is a playmaker and a FB at test level in League. Their ability to play FB in Union is severely restricted by their lack of kicking ability.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Seems to be around 8 mths these days Mushi. I guess there is bad and worse ones but in NZ rugby TJ Peranara is 7 mths into recovery and back training and Burke from Canterbury is expected to be back in april after a injury in Oct.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah to me that’s the risk. Playing effectively year round is not good for players.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah it’s not like a Japanese club signs Manu over a nobody. It’s Manu over another player in high demand.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Your assumption that NRL players would lift the standard of the Japanese competition is flawed. Best to worry about potential injuries to these NRL players given the influx of seasons overseas rugby players in the Japanese competition; can't wait to see Manu take on Ardie Savea!! :happy:
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
"Like most men in their 20s he probably would feel he doesn’t need a rest period." Exactly right. The problems start when you hit your thirties :crying:
mushi
Roar Guru
Achilles is typically a 10-12 month turn around to full strength I thought?
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
All depends on the time of the year he comes back. It's professional sport and when he's back T14 take medical jokers on shorterm. If he has an NRL contract done up like SBW did he won't need to worry
mushi
Roar Guru
With a torn Achilles?
mushi
Roar Guru
They just hired Eddie right?
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
If the player shows he can play union plenty teams in Japan and France would take him on.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
You would imagine that deals could be worked out were the player gets a certain about of rest during the year. French Top14 and ProD2 only have about 2 months between first and last game and get about 1 month off of training as the NRL finishes later he might not need so much pre season. It's then just finding the sweet spot of how many rounds between rest weeks. Like most men in their 20s he probably would feel he doesn't need a rest period.
mudchooks
Roar Rookie
Low risk for the NRL clubs but high risk if you’re a player. They’re going overseas without a contact in place with their main employer, if they do an ACL or Achilles while in Japan then the NRL would be unlikely to register a contract for that season.