All Blacks legend reveals Joey Manu’s cross-code launch plan – as Roosters star gives blunt verdict on Super Rugby return
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Joey Manu’s admission that it will likely take a change in New Zealand’s foreign player policy to give him a shot at the All Blacks could surprise the man who recruited him from the Roosters – Steve Hansen.
The legendary All Blacks coach will welcome Manu to Toyota Verblitz for next season and had a different take on Manu’s All Blacks ambitions when he spoke to The Roar Rugby Podcast this week.
Manu told the Daily Telegraph that he had no interest in returning to New Zealand to play in Super Rugby at the end of his one-year contract in Japan. As things stand he can’t make the All Blacks while playing club rugby overseas.
It’s a burning issue in New Zealand, as they find themselves slipping behind South Africa and Ireland in the battle for the No.1 spot on the world rankings.
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said he was even urged by NRL great Andrew Johns to push for a change to let Japan-based Richie Mo’unga play from Japan.
Manu is in his final days at the Roosters.
“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,” he told the Telegraph.
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.”
Hansen, who will coach Toyota Verblitz alongside Ian Foster, told The Roar he had high hopes that Manu would be a hit in rugby, but success wouldn’t come immediately.
“That’s the big thing, we’ve got to integrate him,” said Hansen.
“We can’t just click our fingers and expect him to be a superstar, even though he is a superstar coming from one code to the other.
“They’re different games. We need to give him a break too. He’s had a pretty big season, even though he broke his hand and got a few weeks off.
All Blacks legend reveals Joey Manu’s cross-code launch plan – as Roosters star gives blunt verdict on Super Rugby return
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Joey Manu’s admission that it will likely take a change in New Zealand’s foreign player policy to give him a shot at the All Blacks could surprise the man who recruited him from the Roosters – Steve Hansen.
The legendary All Blacks coach will welcome Manu to Toyota Verblitz for next season and had a different take on Manu’s All Blacks ambitions when he spoke to The Roar Rugby Podcast this week.
Manu told the Daily Telegraph that he had no interest in returning to New Zealand to play in Super Rugby at the end of his one-year contract in Japan. As things stand he can’t make the All Blacks while playing club rugby overseas.
It’s a burning issue in New Zealand, as they find themselves slipping behind South Africa and Ireland in the battle for the No.1 spot on the world rankings.
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said he was even urged by NRL great Andrew Johns to push for a change to let Japan-based Richie Mo’unga play from Japan.
Manu is in his final days at the Roosters.
“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,” he told the Telegraph.
“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.”
Hansen, who will coach Toyota Verblitz alongside Ian Foster, told The Roar he had high hopes that Manu would be a hit in rugby, but success wouldn’t come immediately.
“That’s the big thing, we’ve got to integrate him,” said Hansen.
“We can’t just click our fingers and expect him to be a superstar, even though he is a superstar coming from one code to the other.
“They’re different games. We need to give him a break too. He’s had a pretty big season, even though he broke his hand and got a few weeks off.
“We’ll bring him in quietly and get him to feel part of the group and slowly introduce him to the game and find out really how much he has remembered from his old playing days. Being a back, it’s a little easier. I think if we play him in the centres, it becomes a bit more difficult because there’s a lot more happening there.
“But if we play him in the back three, particularly fullback, I think he’s very good under the high ball. He’s a great returner of the football. I can’t honestly say what he’s like at kicking it, that’s a skill.
“He’s an athlete, so you’d be able to teach him how to kick the ball.
“Put him in a position where he’s comfortable and he knows he can actually do some things really well. Then just slowly introduce him into the game so he doesn’t lose his confidence.
“That’ll be important. Every conversation I’ve had with him, I’ve been really impressed with him. I think he’s a super character of a bloke.”
Hansen said Manu was coming to rugby for “all the right reasons, and none of it’s money.
All Blacks legend reveals Joey Manu’s cross-code launch plan – as Roosters star gives blunt verdict on Super Rugby return
ASet small text size ASet the default text size ASet large text size
Joey Manu’s admission that it will likely take a change in New Zealand’s foreign player policy to give him a shot at the All Blacks could surprise the man who recruited him from the Roosters – Steve Hansen.
The legendary All Blacks coach will welcome Manu to Toyota Verblitz for next season and had a different take on Manu’s All Blacks ambitions when he spoke to The Roar Rugby Podcast this week.
Manu told the Daily Telegraph that he had no interest in returning to New Zealand to play in Super Rugby at the end of his one-year contract in Japan. As things stand he can’t make the All Blacks while playing club rugby overseas.
It’s a burning issue in New Zealand, as they find themselves slipping behind South Africa and Ireland in the battle for the No.1 spot on the world rankings.
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said he was even urged by NRL great Andrew Johns to push for a change to let Japan-based Richie Mo’unga play from Japan.
Manu is in his final days at the Roosters.
“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,” he told the Telegraph.
“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.”
Hansen, who will coach Toyota Verblitz alongside Ian Foster, told The Roar he had high hopes that Manu would be a hit in rugby, but success wouldn’t come immediately.
“That’s the big thing, we’ve got to integrate him,” said Hansen.
“We can’t just click our fingers and expect him to be a superstar, even though he is a superstar coming from one code to the other.
“They’re different games. We need to give him a break too. He’s had a pretty big season, even though he broke his hand and got a few weeks off.
“We’ll bring him in quietly and get him to feel part of the group and slowly introduce him to the game and find out really how much he has remembered from his old playing days. Being a back, it’s a little easier. I think if we play him in the centres, it becomes a bit more difficult because there’s a lot more happening there.
“But if we play him in the back three, particularly fullback, I think he’s very good under the high ball. He’s a great returner of the football. I can’t honestly say what he’s like at kicking it, that’s a skill
“He’s an athlete, so you’d be able to teach him how to kick the ball.
“Put him in a position where he’s comfortable and he knows he can actually do some things really well. Then just slowly introduce him into the game so he doesn’t lose his confidence.
“That’ll be important. Every conversation I’ve had with him, I’ve been really impressed with him. I think he’s a super character of a bloke.”
Hansen said Manu was coming to rugby for “all the right reasons, and none of it’s money.
“He’s coming because he wants to play rugby. I think that’s a wonderful thing too for us. I think it’s good that we can introduce him to the sport again away from the spotlight of New Zealand.
“I’ve got no doubt if he’s going really good, then we’ll probably see that he’ll end up going back to New Zealand and try and make the All Blacks, which would be wonderful if he does. If we can play a part in that journey, then it’ll be great.”
All Blacks legend reveals Joey Manu’s cross-code launch plan – as Roosters star gives blunt verdict on Super Rugby return
ASet small text size ASet the default text size ASet large text size
Joey Manu’s admission that it will likely take a change in New Zealand’s foreign player policy to give him a shot at the All Blacks could surprise the man who recruited him from the Roosters – Steve Hansen.
The legendary All Blacks coach will welcome Manu to Toyota Verblitz for next season and had a different take on Manu’s All Blacks ambitions when he spoke to The Roar Rugby Podcast this week.
Manu told the Daily Telegraph that he had no interest in returning to New Zealand to play in Super Rugby at the end of his one-year contract in Japan. As things stand he can’t make the All Blacks while playing club rugby overseas.
It’s a burning issue in New Zealand, as they find themselves slipping behind South Africa and Ireland in the battle for the No.1 spot on the world rankings.
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said he was even urged by NRL great Andrew Johns to push for a change to let Japan-based Richie Mo’unga play from Japan.
Manu is in his final days at the Roosters.
“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,” he told the Telegraph.
“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.”
Hansen, who will coach Toyota Verblitz alongside Ian Foster, told The Roar he had high hopes that Manu would be a hit in rugby, but success wouldn’t come immediately.
“That’s the big thing, we’ve got to integrate him,” said Hansen.
“We can’t just click our fingers and expect him to be a superstar, even though he is a superstar coming from one code to the other.
“They’re different games. We need to give him a break too. He’s had a pretty big season, even though he broke his hand and got a few weeks off.
“We’ll bring him in quietly and get him to feel part of the group and slowly introduce him to the game and find out really how much he has remembered from his old playing days. Being a back, it’s a little easier. I think if we play him in the centres, it becomes a bit more difficult because there’s a lot more happening there.
“But if we play him in the back three, particularly fullback, I think he’s very good under the high ball. He’s a great returner of the football. I can’t honestly say what he’s like at kicking it, that’s a skill.
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
“He’s an athlete, so you’d be able to teach him how to kick the ball.
“Put him in a position where he’s comfortable and he knows he can actually do some things really well. Then just slowly introduce him into the game so he doesn’t lose his confidence.
“That’ll be important. Every conversation I’ve had with him, I’ve been really impressed with him. I think he’s a super character of a bloke.”
Hansen said Manu was coming to rugby for “all the right reasons, and none of it’s money.
“He’s coming because he wants to play rugby. I think that’s a wonderful thing too for us. I think it’s good that we can introduce him to the sport again away from the spotlight of New Zealand.
“I’ve got no doubt if he’s going really good, then we’ll probably see that he’ll end up going back to New Zealand and try and make the All Blacks, which would be wonderful if he does. If we can play a part in that journey, then it’ll be great.”
Manu says he’ll make a quick judgement on his rugby future.
“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,” Manu said.
“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.
“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.”
