Roosters star Joseph Manu is weighing up whether to make a switch to rugby union at the end of the year with the Kiwi international admitting playing for “the All Blacks would be pretty cool”.
The game’s best centre is off contract at the end of the year and his management has floated the prospect of a short-term switch to take up a lucrative offer to play club rugby in Japan before returning to the Roosters.
But Manu is also open to the prospect of making a long-term switch to the 15-player code to minimise speculation about when or if he would be returning to the NRL. He wants to finalise his future before the Roosters’ trip to Las Vegas at the end of the month for the NRL’s historic opening round.
“I’ve been here for a long time now and Roosters is pretty much home for me … if I’m playing rugby league, I’m here at the Roosters,” Manu told Nine News.
“I’m not too sure what I will end up doing, but rugby is a challenge and it’s something different, something new. If I go and play rugby, I will be focused on rugby – not really going and coming back sort of thing.
“Obviously [playing for] the All Blacks would be pretty cool. That’s a Kiwi’s dream.
“It’s the option to try and challenge myself. I think for any player, that’s where they grow as a player and a person.”
Manu is no stranger to rugby after starting out in the code before he was scouted by the Roosters as a teenager.
“I grew up playing rugby but it’s really just a case of looking at all options and that was one that was tossed up,” he said.
“I’ve been at the Roosters for 10 years now. It’s been a long time and I love the place. That makes it very hard to leave but we’ll see what happens.”
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
St George Illawarra have offered the 2021 Golden Boot winner a long-term deal reportedly worth as much as $1.2 million a season if he wants to remain in the NRL but have a chance to play his preferred position of fullback.
Roosters skipper James Tedesco has the No.1 jersey ahead of Manu for at least two more seasons with the veteran signed until the end of 2025 and potentially extending his career after that deal.
But the prospect of playing for an NRL team against coach Trent Robinson and the club that made him a star does not hold much appeal for Manu.
“I don’t want to play against them at all. Not at all. What the club’s done for me over my career, I couldn’t do that,” Manu said.
“I appreciate all that help too much and I’ve enjoyed my time. I’d like to stay, that’s the priority and we’ll see what happens with the other options.
“Robbo’s very open, he’s a very good man and he just wants what’s best for you. I want the best for myself and my family, and the Roosters too.
“Whatever happens, it has to be good for everyone, so we had those open conversations and now it’s up to my manager. [Rugby] is still just an option at this stage. But I’m at the point where it’s time to look at those options in both codes. I played both codes growing up.
“And in terms of rugby league, I want to be a Rooster. That’s where my head is at and playing rugby league is what I’m focusing on.”
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I disagree Piru. He has been offered 1.2mil a season to go to Saints ( I think ) so its not about more cash.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
He did, but the crucial words there were 27 'after a long time playing rugby'. If he'd gone to play rugby France for a couple of years at 25 and then began at 27 it might have been ok.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Hahaha just imagine the first scrum! They the Cock ca diddle do’s would be pushed all the way out the stadium! lol ????
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
TBH He’s talking about going from a club game to an international game that’s known as the global game. Also he’ll have to do more than playing club games to even be considered by Razor & his selectors. Time will tell if he is good enough!
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Going from the Roosters to the All Blacks will be like going from the SAS to high school cadets.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Didn't he just turn 27?
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Don't forget the great league player SBW, was such a legend in his forward play in league, but when he switched to rugby, he didn't have the needed forward skills to align to in rugby, in the pack. So he was switched to the backs where he was still able to use his known off loading tactics far better. So TBH there has been virtually no forward to come from league & play in a rugby as a forward, unless they had experience in their youth, such as Brad Thorn.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Indeed, and I think he should have moved to the forwards in rugby in his 30s and might have had the longevity of Thorn.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
FFS - why don’t the Roosters just put a team in the Rugby World Cup! Probably do better than the Wallabies anyway.
Thom
Roar Rookie
Sonny was a league forward. If he had played rugby right through pretty sure would have been a number 8.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Didn't you know that players like RTS, Benji and Manu have an absolute right to start for the All Blacks at the end of their careers because its 'cool' and the current All Blacks should just show some respect and get out of the way?
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
SBW was 22 when he went to rugby. Compare the success of RTS and Benji at 28. More interesting and unusual was Thorn who did join at 26 and was successful. One factor is that he was a very rare forward in league who became a forward in rugby. Forwards rely less on high level pace that declines towards 30 and so can be good for longer. It's a big missed opportunity not to get more forwards and turn them into forwards.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Some of these player managers must think fans are stupid. A statement hits the press saying a player fancies going to Union and playing for the All Blacks. A couple of years ago it was Kalyn Ponga and now Joey Manu beating the drum. As if that's all it takes to make the team. I must confess to knowing very little about Union but, at a guess, I doubt any incumbent All Black player is going to step aside because a League player wants his jersey. Managers should do their job and negotiate the best deal for their client, drop the All Black tactic and don't take fans for mugs.
Thom
Roar Rookie
Thorn and sbw seemed to be able to swap between codes. Thorn was still playing at forty odd. Both had their struggles to adapt but Thorn was a great of both codes. Sbw was the reason auckland beat the b lions was his best game.
piru
Roar Rookie
Code for "give me more money"
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Hahahahaha :laughing: Why should he, as if Manu's good enough, it's up to him to prove it to the AB selectors that he's the one! There are others about to show their talent this coming season. In fact a big show to be expected.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Too old near 30, like RTS and like Manu..
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Obviously you don’t Razor! Either do I, personally, but I do know having been told by a few, that he will be selecting the best we have available, unlike his predecessor! As it’s known he did win seven successive SR titles!
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Manu was one of the top players in the game a year or so back but I reckon he's gone off the boil a touch lately. Not as much as Ted but enough for me to take notice. He's still a top class player but I'm not sure he's the Superman he was. The Chooks are set to fire up this season though and maybe he'll be back to his best........
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Yes, and didn't it occur to him last year, or the year before, or the one before that.... And then if it's the 'cool' All Blacks, why Japan first? All the time in the world is it? Or maybe he was watching the late transitions of RTS and Benji and thought 'those worked so well! I'll wait until I'm nearly 30!'.