The former Roosters star is reportedly set to turn his back on French rugby.
Two-time premiership winner Joey Manu is being tipped to make a sensational return to the NRL this season – just not with the team most would expect – his former club, the Sydney Roosters. Manu left the Roosters at the end of last season and made a switch to rugby union, where he’s been playing for Japanese side, Toyota Verblitz.
The former Golden Boot winner then planned on linking up with French rugby club Racing 92 from July, ahead of the domestic rugby season in France which kicks off in August. But Manu has reportedly had a change of heart and is understood to be angling for an NRL return to either Australia or his native New Zealand – on compassionate grounds.
Manu previously said he couldn’t see himself playing for one of the Roosters’ NRL rivals, having spent 10 years at the club he considers home. But with Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad’s future uncertain at the Auckland-based club, it could offer the former Kiwi Test star Manu an opportunity to return to his homeland and play for Andrew Webster’s side.
Nicoll-Klokstad’s current deal with the Warriors runs until the end of this season and the 29-year-old is yet to sign an extension. It comes amid reports this week that the Warriors’ No.1 was weighing up a long-term deal to join the Super League in England from 2026, with the Catalan Dragons emerging as the frontrunners for Nicoll-Klokstad’s signature.
Joey Manu tipped to end up at the Warriors, not Roosters
Speaking on SEN radio, former NRL player-turned broadcaster Denan Kemp says it sets the stage for Manu to choose the Warriors over his former club because it would present the best opportunity for him to play fullback. “The obvious answer would be back to the Roosters,” Kemp said. “First of all I’d have to assume the salary cap auditors would have to look at that because they (Roosters) released him, now he’s (potentially) coming back in the middle of the season.
But if he was going to come back to the Roosters he would probably have to stay at the Roosters because I can’t see the Roosters going ‘Oh yeah you can come back to us for half a year but then go and sign with someone else’. And Tedesco, he’s going around again next year, does Joey really want to come back to the Roosters and play in the centres again? I don’t think so, I think he probably wants to get more ball.
“I actually think the Warriors are lining up in the box seat to get Manu because, just to the story about a week ago, that Charnze-Nicoll-Klokstad is most likely to take an offer up in the Super League… and all of a sudden that fullback position opens up. Now people may say (Taine) Tuaupiki could come in and be the fullback but are you going to go for a Golden Boot winner or a rookie that can play on the wing and wait a couple of years? You’d go with Joey Manu so I reckon he might end up at the Warriors.”
Roosters say Joey Manu won’t return in 2025
Strengthening the theory is the admission from Roosters coach Trent Robinson on Thursday that Manu won’t be coming back to the Chooks this season. Calls have been growing for the struggling Roosters to get Manu back after their 1-4 start to the season, but Robinson says it won’t be happening this year and that reports Manu had asked for a release from French rugby was news to the Roosters coach.
“I had no idea about it at all, so that’s the first thing. Joey, this is his home, it always has been,” Robinson said. “But I’m sure he’s got a plan. If he’s asked for a release, then he’d have a plan on what he wants to do, and that’s not going to be (with) us.”
Robinson seemingly left the door open for Manu to return next season though, after insisting he’d always consider welcoming back the 2018 and 2019 premiership winner. “Naturally you would, but that’s not our choice. Joey gets to make his choice,” he said.
He doesn’t owe us anything. We’ve spent a lot of time together. There’s obviously a professional relationship with the Roosters and also a lot of care for his family. I don’t know if it’s true, I’ve heard it reported. But until Joey tells me, then I won’t be interested in why he doesn’t want to go to France.”
