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‘All Blacks would be pretty cool’: NRL’s Joseph Manu weighing up code switch
By Finn Morton
Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Kiwis utility Joseph Manu is weighing up a possible full-time switch to rugby union which could see the NRL star potentially realise his All Blacks “dream.”
Manu, 27, was crowned the world’s best international rugby league player after a sensational series of Test matches in the New Zealand Kiwis jersey in 2022.
But away from the international game, the two-time NRL Premiership winner has risen to superstar status during a glistening career with the Roosters which began in 2016.
The Tricolours – nickname for the Sydney Roosters – will be desperate to keep Manu beyond 2024, with the New Zealander set to come off contract at the end of the 2024 season.
Manu is widely viewed as the best player set to test the free agency open market with the Rooster generating plenty of interest amid links of a short-term deal in Japanese rugby.
“I’m not too sure what I’ll end up doing but I think rugby is a challenge. It’s something different, something new” Manu told Nine News. “If I go to play rugby then I’m focused on rugby, not on coming back.
“Obviously (playing for) the All Blacks would be pretty cool. That’s a Kiwi’s dream.”
It’s been reported that Manu’s management has floated the idea of the NRL star signing a short deal with a Japanese rugby club from December to May. Under this proposed deal, Manu would ideally return to Sydney to see out the rest of the 2025 NRL season with the Tricolours.
But Manu has ruled out that idea. The Roosters centre insisted that if he does switch codes, it won’t be a temporary stint away from the NRL – it’ll be permanent.
“You could probably go there and come back, but the focus isn’t really going there to just play for a few months and come back. It’s not really that,” Manu added, as reported by Stuff
“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.
“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.”
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Latest Comments
My ‘fantasy’ team V Ireland,
Including options from ABXV if needed, as V Mun better V Ireland better prep than England.
The most important aspect V Ireland is AB need ALL their loosies AND 'loosie capable locks' on ALL match [except IF(?) any tiring ie the aging & slowing eg Cane]. As follows,
{starting} bench (3rd choice)
1 {De Groot} / Tu’ungafasi (Williams)
2 { anyone that can throw!! }/ Aumua (Brodie McAlister)
Ryan! coach lineouts & Aumua to throw!
3 {Lomax}/ Tosi (Newell )
Tosi immense strength V England
4,5 Locks { P.Tuipulotu, S.Barrett }, Vaa’i, Darry
( Isaia Walker-Leawere)
Vaa’i off V Eng. Assumed due to leg injury(?)
6,7,8 Loose forwards { Sititi, A.Savea, Cane } Vaa’i, S.Barrettm, P.Tuipulotu back up (Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi )
9 {Roigard } Ratima ( TJ )
10 {D.McK} Perofeta ( Plummer)
12 {J.Barrett } ALB ( Q.Tupaea )
13 {Proctor} Ioane ( AJ Lam )
Ioane (off V England ) but Irish experience (NO not Sexton!)
14 { Tele’a} Reece (bkup W.Jordan )
11 {C.Clarke} Narawa (K.Naholo)
15 {W.Jordan} Love (Stevenson)
Go to commentsI guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
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