Joey Manu insists an All Blacks cap remains a distant goal, even if his impending switch to the 15-player game has experts excited about him following the trail blazed by Sonny Bill Williams.
Manu announced last week 2024 would be his last in the NRL with the Sydney Roosters before moving to Japan and joining Toyota Verblitz.
The 27-year-old has won 17 caps for the Kiwis but if all goes well in Japan it could be a springboard to him one day representing the All Blacks.
New Zealand Rugby has strictly pursued a policy of only calling up players plying their trade domestically and Manu would likely have to return to New Zealand if he wanted a shot at selection for the 2027 World Cup.
History is also stacked against the Roosters centre due to the fact, since rugby union became openly professional in 1995, only Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Williams have won caps for New Zealand in both codes.
Working in Manu’s favour, however, is the fact Steve Hansen, who helped guide Williams’ union career, is the director of rugby at Toyota Verblitz with Ian Foster installed as coach next year.
But, speaking for the first time since finalising his switch, Manu is keen to downplay his prospects of international honours, stressing the most important goal was learning a game he hadn’t played since his school days.
“If I’m playing good then yeah (I’d love an All Blacks jersey), but that’s not the main focus, I’ve got to learn the game,” Manu told AAP.
“I’m really happy that those two coaches are there along with Aaron Smith so I want to build off that.
“It was a personal decision and I obviously had to look for the best option.
“I felt that was what was best, talking to the coaches there, I just want to go over there and learn and develop as a rugby player.”
Manu has yet to begin learning Japanese and said he had agonised over leaving the club and the tutelage of Trent Robinson, who has been a constant in his NRL career.
“It was a tough decision, I had a lot of chats with ‘Robbo’ and how long I’ve been here … I came over here when I was 16, it’s a long while and it’s the only thing I’ve known,” Manu said.
“This place, the club, as well, I made the decision and I’m content with it and I’ve just got to enjoy every moment and make the most of my last year.”
Manu has two NRL premierships to his name but if the Roosters can snap their inconsistent performances he hopes to be able to add a third.
A 4-4 record perhaps belies the quality in Robinson’s star-studded side and Manu knows the Roosters have it within themselves to start upping the ante.
“We’re sort of up and down and we haven’t really proven too much,” Manu added. “We’ve got to find that consistency, that week to week is the challenge for us.
“We’ve got to stay with that and then hopefully we can start racking up a few games in a row.”
andrew
Roar Rookie
See Amone's appeal failed Tony. I can't believe his barrister tried the " running for training " argument. Geez, I couldn't think of such a dumb defence.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Time for a XXXX :thumbup:
Phil Browne
Roar Rookie
It's lucky they were able to shorten he's name as well. I reckon he'd have a 50/50 chance of spelling it now
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
It's peeing down rain here atm Andrew. I'm itching to get outside.
Phil Browne
Roar Rookie
How'd I know you were a Qlder? Jimmmy I follow all sports and believe it or not I have very little to do with either Rugby. I just enjoy having a go at Mungoball fans whenever they attack any other sport because it seems to be a habit of you blokes.. Your mate Tony there is one of my faves.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
It's true you don't need to count to 5 in Union. You don't need to count at all, that helped Dell.
Tony
Roar Guru
You're talking to a sad, lonely, impotent troll mate.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Hi Phil, some people move . I know who would believe that? I lived in Darwin from the early 80s till 2010 and now live mostly in Darwin but also on the Gold Coast . My kids and Grandkids are all in Darwin but I have some older relatives in QLD. I will tell you about Darwin sporting wise. Everyone plays multiple sports. All the sports get along well and help each other out. AFL is played in the wet season and RL in the dry. Heaps of guys play both sports . Soccer is big ( large Greek population) but Union is fairly small. Basketball is also big and many guys play it and AFL . Cricket ( not surprisingly ) is also played in the dry. I coached RL, cricket and Soccer ( only till under 8s when my lack of knowledge ran out). Great kids in all sports. You would really benefit from a stint up there especially if you are sporty.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Union requires half a brain. ? You mean like Izzy , Mat Rogers , Lote and Dell?
andrew
Roar Rookie
jimmmy, it’s a troll, just ignore it.
Phil Browne
Roar Rookie
Yea if he doesn't make it he can just choose the easy way out. We'll see what happens when he has to play a sport that requires half a brain and skill
Phil Browne
Roar Rookie
You said you were from Darwin You're a Qlder.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I'm not from Darwin ?? I live in Brinkin, . It was n Darwin last time I looked.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Hi Phil, Do you think he will come back ?
Phil Browne
Roar Rookie
Back to the sport that can't grow outside Qld and parts of NSW? Imagine the sooking if someone was that disparaging towards your fledgling sport Jimmmy
Phil Browne
Roar Rookie
No you aren't Jimmmy. AFL dwarves it
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I'm from Darwin . NRL is big up here.
FourwingSweepa
Roar Rookie
He'll be back in the superior game next year
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
Plenty - Mat Ridge, John Kirwan, John Timu, Inga Tuigamala, Noa Nadruku, Semi Radradra, Marika Sivo, Will Warbrick, Valance TeWhare, Jeral Skelton, Jordan Rapana, Jamayne Isaako etc.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Indeed. He still moved over too late and failed as a result.