Joey Manu laughs when he hears Trent Robinson, his former coach at the Roosters, has taken to issuing updates to the Sydney press pack on his playing future.
Manu has just come off the training field in Japan, where the 28-year-old is midway through his first season as a rugby union convert.
The interview has been pushed back an hour, after a session run by his bosses at Toyota Verblitz, ex-All Black coaches Steve Hansen and Ian Foster, ran long. Despite having Manu, Michael Hooper and Aaron Smith at the club, the Verblitz are so far struggling and sit second-last.
“There’s hardly any media up here, so I don’t have to say too much,” Manu says, when reminded of the NRL spotlight in Sydney. “It’s been good.”
But, Manu confirms, his Sydney spokesman – Robinson – is spot on.
Speculation he may be back for the Chooks in the NRL later this season, or even next year, is off the mark. Manu is staying in rugby for at least another year – probably longer – and after enjoying his stint so far in the 15-man game, Manu’s boyhood dream of becoming an All Black has only strengthened.
And the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia flashes like a beacon on the horizon.
“I’m sticking in rugby,” Manu said. “Like I have said, I hope to play for the All Blacks. That’s a dream and the World Cup would be nice. But all I can say is I’ll be in rugby for this year and next year, and I just want to see how each year goes.
Joey Manu playing for Toyota Verblitz in Japan.Credit: Getty Images
“I’m enjoying it. If I wasn’t enjoying it, then obviously I probably would be back in rugby league. But for now I’m enjoying my time in union.”
In his first interview since moving to Japan, Manu opened up on his transition to the 15-man code and the buzz of playing against some of the world’s best rugby players, his willingness to play Super Rugby to become an All Black, interest in playing against the Lions, his friendship – and hip-hop future – with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, and a deep admiration for Robinson and the fight shown by the inexperienced Roosters.
Japan switch and transition
After a stellar rugby league career that saw him collect 181 NRL games, two premierships, a Golden Boot and 17 Test caps, Manu switched codes after the Roosters’ season ended in last year.
He wasn’t in action as quickly as his good mate and hip hop colleague Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, but Manu moved to Nagoya – south of Tokyo – and kicked off with Toyota Verblitz in December.
He’s played 11 games; starting out at centre but moving to wing in recent weeks. And though it hasn’t been smooth sailing, with Verblitz winning only two games so far, Manu has been a steady contributor, with six tries already.
Manu on the attack for Toyota.Credit: Getty Images
“It’s been tough as a team, where we are sitting on the table. But just the whole experience is what I expected: I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made to come to Japan,” Manu said.
“In a team environment like the Verblitz, learning under ‘Shag’ (Hansen) and ‘Fozzy’ (Foster), it’s been enormous for my growth. I’m real fresh and really, really just trying to learn as much as I can here. I know I’ve got a long way to go to where I want to be.”
Manu played as a schoolboy rugby growing up in Waikato, idolising Mils Muliaina and Dan Carter. And has been pleasantly surprised by how quickly the 15-man instincts have kicked back in.
“Obviously it is a lot different to the professional rugby, but I feel like there’s a lot of similarities anyway in rugby, with rugby league,” he said. “But there’s a lot of differences as well. It has been challenging, but I’ve felt like I’ve been enjoying it. I’m always learning each week.”
Patience required
Apart from the mysteries of the breakdown and all those rules, the tough part of Manu’s transition to rugby has been the frustrating gap between wanting to display his trademark power and skill, and finding the right time and place to do it.
“I was talking to ‘Shag’ about coming over last year, around this time last year and he told me that I’m going to have to be patient at times. So I already knew what I had to do,” Manu said.
Manu has scored six tries in his 11 games in the League One competition.Credit: Getty Images
“Sometimes I know I want to do , and I see a lot of opportunity for me in games. And it’s sometimes hard to not get a bit frustrated and you want to just take those opportunities on. It’s just about being patient.”
Star-spotting in Japanese rugby
Manu is getting a kick out of playing in the star-studded Japan’s club rugby competition, League One.
Last weekend Manu played against Kiwi star Richie Mo’unga, who is the world’s best paid rugby player at the Toshiba Brave Lupus on $2.2 million a season. He’s already played against Cheslin Kolbe, Pablo Matera, Jesse Kriel and Faf de Klerk.
“I probably didn’t realise how strong .. I knew the League One competition was good over here, but there’s a lot of big names that’s playing over here now, and it’s a strong competition,” he said.
“I’m just new to rugby, so it’s good not much people know me. But when you play against world-class players like Richie Mo’unga last week … you do get excited for games like that.”
Chasing the All Blacks
Manu says he doesn’t have a long-term plan but for now, he’s staying in rugby. The 28-year-old sidesteps an invitation to reveal where he’ll be playing, however.
It is expected Manu will move to Paris mid-year to take up a deal with glamour club Racing 92, in the French Top 14 competition.
But after that? That’s where Manu’s All Black dream comes into the picture.
Roger Tuivasa Sheck playing for the All Blacks in 2022.Credit: AP
“I’ve always said I’ve wanted to play for the All Blacks. It’s always been a goal or a dream since I was as a kid, as a New Zealand kid,” he said.
“But like I said before, I’ve just got a long way to go. I know where I am at the moment, and I feel like the rest will take care of itself once I start getting better.”
Other Kiwis in the NRL have chased the All Blacks dream, with mixed success. Sonny-Bill Williams nailed it, Benji Marshall didn’t last a season and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck played three Tests before returning to the NRL.
Hansen, Foster and Smith have all said they believe Manu has what it takes but to be picked for the All Blacks, you must be playing in New Zealand. Manu said last year he had no desire to play in Super Rugby and he hoped the eligibility rules might change.
But Manu’s view now changed too – opening up the prospect of him playing for the Chiefs in 2027.
“Obviously what you have to do is play in New Zealand,” he said. “Like I said, if I’m feeling good and feeling like I’ve improved my game, which I do hope and I want to get better at, then if I feel like it’s right, then I’ll obviously have to go home and play.”
Lion hunting with Anzacs
Manu could get his first taste of international rugby against the British and Irish Lions in Adelaide in July, as part of the Australia & New Zealand Invitational team.
“It’d be pretty cool, eh? I don’t really know too much about it until last week someone mentioned it,” he said.
“Obviously you’re going to get picked first and there’s a lot of good players over here. But if I do get the opportunity and if the time’s right, to play against the Lions, that’d pretty cool.”
Suaalii friendship and music future
One of Manu’s good friends is Suaalii, who he took under his wing like a little brother at the Roosters. Suaalii has said Manu is one of his biggest influences.
Joey Manu and Joseph Suaalii are good friends and occasional music colleagues.Credit: James Brickwood
Manu wasn’t surprised to see his exceptional debut for the Wallabies against England at Twickenham.
“I’ve seen that firsthand, which I’ve been pretty blessed to obviously work with Joe and see his game right up close,” he said. “I’d always back him as a player. He’s got a special ability, but the work ethic that he puts on top of that just makes him, one of the best players for sure.”
The pair talk regularly about life and their respective code switches. But after they debuted their hip hop crew earlier this year, what about planning for when the next hip hop track is going to drop?
“Nah, nah, we got bad reviews off of the first one,” Manu laughs. “We might have to give that up there.”
Rooster booster
Manu keeps a close eye on the Roosters, too, and he was proud to see the tri-colours down Penrith last week, with an inexperienced team and most people expecting the Panthers to run up a cricket score.
“That was awesome. I was happy as for them, man. I turned it on, no-one gave them a chance, just a whole lot of young kids. It’s a whole different team but man, they did the club proud,” Manu said.
Manu was stunned to hear questions about Robinson’s future at the club, after losing heavily in round one.
“It’s crazy – after one round. I’ve been blessed to have Robbo as a coach my whole career. So he’s awesome, man. He’s so knowledgeable and no doubt that he would have set that mindset for a lot of those young boys to go out there and just play footy, against Penrith.
“He just deserves to be at the Roosters for a long time.”
Will Manu ever be back with him at Bondi? Will any of those “Manu is coming back” rumours end up being right?
“We’ll see, I’m not getting any younger,” Manu says.
“I want to do a few things in the rugby union first and like I said, I ain’t really got much of a plan. I’m not closing any doors, but just staying in rugby for now. I’ll just be a fan for now.”
