1
Watch: Aaron Smith sets up ex-NRL star Joseph Manu for debut try in Japan
By Finn Morton
Former Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Kiwis utility Joseph Manu has scored on debut for Toyota Verblitz in Japan Rugby League One, with legendary All Black Aaron Smith sending the code-hopper over for a try with an inch-perfect pass against Kubota Spears.
Manu, 28, signed with the Japanese club who also have World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit on their books for the upcoming season. Ian Foster is the club’s head coach and they also have two-time Rugby World Cup winner Sir Steve Hansen.
With superstars across the board in the Japanese competition, it was always going to be intriguing to see how Manu fares in the 15-player game – although the 2022 International Rugby League Golden Boot winner insists eventually playing for the All Blacks isn’t a focus.
On the back of another strong season with the Roosters, which saw Manu break the all-time NRL record for the most running metres by an individual player in a single game with 373 in April, Manu recently made the move to Japan to embark on a new sporting journey.
Manu was named at outside centre for Toyota Verblitz’s first match of the new Japan Rugby League One season, with Rikiya Matsuda, Kosei Miki and former Scotland international Richie Gray also named to debut at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium.
Brave Blossoms enforcer Kazuki Himeno was named as the team’s captain at No. 8, while Smith was named as the starting halfback. They came against a Kubota side that included multiple Super Rugby champion Bryn Hall and former Wallaby Bernard Foley in the halves.
Kubota struck first on the 11-minute mark after some solid work from the forwards at a rolling maul but the conversion was unsuccessful. The Spears also went down to 14 men shortly after as winger Halatoa Vailea was shown a yellow card.
Viliame Tuidraki made the most of the advantage to score a try in the corner, with the successful conversion giving Verblitz a 7-5 lead midway through the first term. Captain Himeno scored next for Verblitz before Kubota skipper Faulua Makisi struck back.
It was 14-10 before Manu stepped up.
With 42 seconds until the half-time siren, Smith delivered a perfect pass onto the chest of the former NRL superstar. Manu ran a brave line past Foley; receiving the ball about two metres out from the try line – the New Zealander was always going to be tough to stop from there.
Smith was the first player to embrace Manu before the other Verblitz players rushed over to celebrate their teammate on his debut try. Rikiya Matsuda added the extras to give the men in green a well-worked 21-10 lead at the half-time interval.
But the second term was mostly controlled by Kubota.
The Spears most of the points, which included a clutch drop goal in the 83rd minute from Foley to give them a 30-27 comeback win. Manu had been replaced at that stage as Verblitz started their division one campaign with a tough result.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Richie Mo'unga lifts lid on '27 World Cup hopes
3
Bath face nervous wait on England's lock injury news
4
Sharks player ratings vs Leinster | 2024/25 URC
5
Latest Comments
VERIFIED CRYPTOCURRENCY RESTORATION/FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY.
As a designer, I’m always on the lookout for new tools to improve my workflow. So, when I saw an ad on LinkedIn for a “revolutionary” design software, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. The ad promised to streamline my design process with amazing features at an unbeatable price. Without a second thought, I clicked the link and made the purchase. But soon after buying the software, I realized it was a scam. The software never worked as promised, and when I tried to reach out for support, the company vanished without a trace. I was left feeling frustrated and powerless. 5,000 NZD, a significant amount for anyone, especially a freelancer, was gone, and there was no way to get it back… or so I thought. I was at a loss for what to do next. That’s when I discovered FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY. At first, I wasn’t sure if they could help. Could anyone actually recover money lost to online scams? But, desperate and with no other options, I decided to reach out. I contacted FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY, they explained the process in detail, reassured me that they would do everything in their power to recover my funds, and kept me updated every step of the way. To my amazement, just two days after I reached out, they successfully recovered 4,800 NZD of the 5,000 NZD I had lost. The relief I felt when I saw that money back in my account was indescribable. It was like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Since then, I’ve made it a point to share my experience with other designers in the community. I want to raise awareness about the scams that are out there and remind others to be cautious when browsing for new software. Scammers can target anyone, even professionals like us. But I also want to let fellow designers know that if they do fall victim to fraud, they don’t have to give up. FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY is there to help. Now, I always tell others: Be skeptical of ads that seem too good to be true, especially on platforms like LinkedIn. But if you do get scammed, there’s hope. Don’t hesitate to contact FOLKWINEXPERTRECOVERY(at)TECH-CENTER. CO M, (WhatsApp): +1 (740)705-0711. They helped me get my money back in just two days, and they can help you too.
Warm greetings,
Mr. Gilbert Jonathan
Go to commentsAs a seasoned entrepreneur, I prided myself on due diligence. But when an associate introduced me to a "high-yield crypto platform" backed by polished presentations and fake regulatory licenses, I let my guard down. The platform promised 25% monthly returns through "algorithmic trading." I poured in $775,000 USDT, For months, the dashboard showed soaring profits. Then, the withdrawal requests stalled. Excuses turned to silence. The platform’s domain expired. My heart sank: I’d been ensnared by scam. The loss was paralyzing. My family’s future hung in the balance. Lawyers warned that cross-border crypto scams were nearly impossible to prosecute. I spent sleepless nights scouring blockchain explorers, tracing my USDT to anonymous wallets, but hit dead ends. Then, a cybersecurity contact mentioned Dexdert Net, a firm with a reputation for untangling sophisticated crypto fraud, desperate, I reached out. Dexdert’s team responded promptly, exuding professionalism. They asked for transaction records, wallet addresses, and scammer communications. Their transparency stood out—no upfront fees, just a contingency plan explaining their approach: tracing blockchain transactions, collaborating with exchanges, and leveraging legal channels. Though complex, it reassured me. Weeks passed with regular updates. Dexdert’s experts traced my USDT to a wallet flagged for scams. Dexdert’s persistence was unwavering. They worked tirelessly and successfully recovered my funds, My $775,000 USDT was secured in a new wallet, verified by my own eyes. Relief washed over me—I’d regained control, they restored my faith. To others, I urge: research thoroughly, question "too good" offers, and act swiftly if scammed. While not all stories end like mine, Dexdert’s expertise turned my despair into hope—a second chance I’ll never take for granted.
CONTACT THEM, DEXDERT NET RECOVERY ARE THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.
WhatsApp: (+1 _859_ 609‑4156) Telegram:( @Dexdertprorecovery) Email:(DexdertNetPro@mail.com)
Go to comments