Tweet
For the first time, Joey Manu has admitted he would “love” to return to the Roosters following a shock concession that his All Blacks dream is slipping away due to his disinterest in playing Super Rugby.
Joey Manu has admitted for the first time that he would “love” to return to the Sydney Roosters after conceding his All Blacks dream was sliding because Super Rugby doesn’t “interest or excite” him.
“Going back to New Zealand right now isn’t really a priority of mine,” Manu said.
Manu, 28, will quit the Roosters post-season to take-up a one-year deal with Toyota Verblitz in Japanese rugby union.
His childhood ambition of representing the All Blacks, while remaining possible, is looking increasingly unlikely due to his lack of desire to play Super Rugby.
The NZRU has a strict domestic-only policy around All Blacks selection with players required to play Super Rugby – or have a contract to return to New Zealand the following year - to be eligible for national selection.
With Super Rugby now improbable, Manu’s chances of returning to Bondi have been bolstered.
Speculation has been rife Manu may arrive back at Bondi post-Japan although the player hasn’t openly revealed any plan to come back to the NRL – until now.
“I would love to come back (to the Roosters),” Manu said. “This place means a lot to me. I hope somewhere down the line I will be back. I’m not getting any younger. I’ve got a few options.
“This (the Roosters) is all I have ever known. I came to Australia at 16 and straight to the Roosters. I have been here for over ten years now and, man, I have loved every moment of it, learning about the place, the club, everything.
“Playing for the All Blacks is always something I wanted to do but it makes it a little bit harder by playing overseas. You have to go back to New Zealand to play and the Super Rugby comp hasn’t really interested me at the moment.
“It’s not really exciting for me. I want to go overseas, Japan, and experience a new life. Playing for the All Blacks straight away, I’d love to do that but going back to New Zealand right now isn’t really a priority of mine.
“Hopefully they change the rules. I want to do a bit of time in union. I want to do a few things there first, learning the game. It won’t be easy and will take a while to really do what I want to do.”
Manu prefers against looking too far into the future, opting to focus on Saturday night’s elimination final against Manly, but is aware his time at the Roosters is nearing completion for now.
“I had to learn a lot of things moving over here. I moved straight out of home. I didn’t have any family around. I have really grown up, met my wife (Tyrelle), and have a little daughter now. The best part of my life was moving over here and being a Rooster,” he said.
“A lot of great things have happened, the experiences that the club has given me. I can’t thank them enough but all good things must come to an end. Now it’s coming to an end, it’s going to be different and tough.
“I have loved meeting all the people at the club, they have made it what it is. It’s gone pretty quickly. I’m really looking forward to ending on a high, getting out there and giving it our best shot. There are a few other boys leaving too.”
Manu will arrive in Japan during November with the competition to begin in December and end next May.
“In the first two, three months, I will see what (rugby union) is like, see if I enjoy it. If I feel like I need more time, I can stay longer. I don’t really know what to expect. My focus after this finals series is rugby union and how I want to go about my career in Japan,” he said.
“I played union when I was growing up, all through school. I have been here at the Roosters for a while and (union) is something new, the challenge and experiences are things I’m going to enjoy. I just want to be the best player I can be.
“That’s the thing about a new experience, getting uncomfortable again and challenging myself as a player. But I am totally focused on the (NRL) finals at the moment.”
Joey Manu has admitted for the first time that he would “love” to return to the Sydney Roosters after conceding his All Blacks dream was sliding because Super Rugby doesn’t “interest or excite” him.
“Going back to New Zealand right now isn’t really a priority of mine,” Manu said.
Manu, 28, will quit the Roosters post-season to take-up a one-year deal with Toyota Verblitz in Japanese rugby union.
His childhood ambition of representing the All Blacks, while remaining possible, is looking increasingly unlikely due to his lack of desire to play Super Rugby.
The NZRU has a strict domestic-only policy around All Blacks selection with players required to play Super Rugby – or have a contract to return to New Zealand the following year - to be eligible for national selection.
With Super Rugby now improbable, Manu’s chances of returning to Bondi have been bolstered.
Speculation has been rife Manu may arrive back at Bondi post-Japan although the player hasn’t openly revealed any plan to come back to the NRL – until now.
“I would love to come back (to the Roosters),” Manu said. “This place means a lot to me. I hope somewhere down the line I will be back. I’m not getting any younger. I’ve got a few options.
“This (the Roosters) is all I have ever known. I came to Australia at 16 and straight to the Roosters. I have been here for over ten years now and, man, I have loved every moment of it, learning about the place, the club, everything.
“Playing for the All Blacks is always something I wanted to do but it makes it a little bit harder by playing overseas. You have to go back to New Zealand to play and the Super Rugby comp hasn’t really interested me at the moment.
“It’s not really exciting for me. I want to go overseas, Japan, and experience a new life. Playing for the All Blacks straight away, I’d love to do that but going back to New Zealand right now isn’t really a priority of mine.
“Hopefully they change the rules. I want to do a bit of time in union. I want to do a few things there first, learning the game. It won’t be easy and will take a while to really do what I want to do.”
Manu prefers against looking too far into the future, opting to focus on Saturday night’s elimination final against Manly, but is aware his time at the Roosters is nearing completion for now.
“I had to learn a lot of things moving over here. I moved straight out of home. I didn’t have any family around. I have really grown up, met my wife (Tyrelle), and have a little daughter now. The best part of my life was moving over here and being a Rooster,” he said.
“A lot of great things have happened, the experiences that the club has given me. I can’t thank them enough but all good things must come to an end. Now it’s coming to an end, it’s going to be different and tough.
“I have loved meeting all the people at the club, they have made it what it is. It’s gone pretty quickly. I’m really looking forward to ending on a high, getting out there and giving it our best shot. There are a few other boys leaving too.”
Manu will arrive in Japan during November with the competition to begin in December and end next May.
“In the first two, three months, I will see what (rugby union) is like, see if I enjoy it. If I feel like I need more time, I can stay longer. I don’t really know what to expect. My focus after this finals series is rugby union and how I want to go about my career in Japan,” he said.
“I played union when I was growing up, all through school. I have been here at the Roosters for a while and (union) is something new, the challenge and experiences are things I’m going to enjoy. I just want to be the best player I can be.
“That’s the thing about a new experience, getting uncomfortable again and challenging myself as a player. But I am totally focused on the (NRL) finals at the moment.”
Comment