Joseph Manu, the star player for the Roosters, has left the door open for a potential code switch to rugby union, even though a move to a rival NRL club seems to be off the table. Manu’s contract with the Roosters concludes at the end of the 2024 season, and while he hasn’t made a definitive decision about his future, recent reports linked him to a possible move to Japanese rugby for one season before returning to the Roosters in the latter part of 2025.
Despite reported interest from the Dragons, Manu, in an interview with the SMH, made it clear that playing against the Roosters is something he is not willing to consider. He expressed deep loyalty to the club that has supported him throughout his 10-year career, stating, “I don’t want to play against them (Roosters) at all. Not at all. What the club’s done for me over my career, I couldn’t do that.”
While Manu is currently in talks for a contract extension with the Roosters, he admitted that the appeal of rugby union is enticing. Having played rugby union in high school before joining the Roosters as a teenager, he sees rugby as a challenge. Manu emphasized that if he were to switch to rugby, his focus would be entirely on the new code, with no intention of returning after just a few months.
He views the option to play rugby as a genuine consideration, acknowledging that he has experience in both codes from his upbringing. Manu mentioned, “I’m at the point where it’s time to look at those options in both codes. I played both codes growing up.”
