"Joey Manu"

[SBW1]

Could he make his return before the end of the Super Rugby season this year?

[SBW1]

Could he play for the Chiefs this year?

[sparky]

@SBW1 It sounds as though NZR ain't interested.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360658905/new-zealand-rugby-wont-pursue-joseph-manu-doubts-emerge-about-true-intentions-and-age-profile

[Yeetyaah]

I may have said this before but from what I have heard from someone close to the Chiefs, Joey was keen to play for the Chiefs when he was first code swapping. They made an offer but as he isn't an All Black, he could only be offered the max Super salary which I think is around 180K. Obviously you'd go to Japan and take the milly. No clue if they've been dealing since.

As always, take all of that with a grain of salt, it's just what I've been told.

[SBW1]

Is it still possible for him to get a run this late on in the season at a Super franchise or is club rugby and Npc more likely? He has scored a lot of tries in Japan, one of which was aerial, pretty darned special. Everyone is holding their breathes for an announcement on his next move. Does not sound like the NRL though.

[sparky]

He has a contract to play for Racing 92 in France from July. My suspicion is that is his most likely destination.

[Landers92]

@SBW1 said in "Joey Manu":

Everyone is holding their breathes for an announcement on his next move.

Who is everyone? Maybe the French club he’s signed with and the NRL clubs yeah. I don’t think many in NZ will be too disappointed if he doesn’t end up coming here.

[frugby]

@Landers92 Watching Suaalii has made me slightly envious... not saying Manu is that guy, but could it be Ponga?

[Nepia]

@sparky said in "Joey Manu":

@SBW1 It sounds as though NZR ain't interested.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360658905/new-zealand-rugby-wont-pursue-joseph-manu-doubts-emerge-about-true-intentions-and-age-profile

I don't get the age profile bit, we've favoured aged midfielders for decades now, plus we took on an aged Benji and a reasonably aged RTS, and of those three I think Manu is better equiped to make the transition.

[Crazy Horse]

@Landers92 said in "Joey Manu":

@SBW1 said in "Joey Manu":

Everyone is holding their breathes for an announcement on his next move.

Who is everyone? Maybe the French club he’s signed with and the NRL clubs yeah. I don’t think many in NZ will be too disappointed if he doesn’t end up coming here.

I will be. He's up there as one of my favourite league players and I would have been interested to see how he went in rugby. Wouldn't want NZ to throw money at him at this stage though.

[African Monkey]

@Landers92 said in "Joey Manu":

@SBW1 said in "Joey Manu":

Everyone is holding their breathes for an announcement on his next move.

Who is everyone? Maybe the French club he’s signed with and the NRL clubs yeah. I don’t think many in NZ will be too disappointed if he doesn’t end up coming here.

Yeah agree and I follow both codes. Hearing his name and where he ends up is annoying.

[SBW1]

From my understanding and it is only from recent headlines, he was exiting his contract in France due to the coach he initially signed with standing down. Think it was Stuart Lancaster. Only quoting what I have heard on Facebook.

[sparky]

@SBW1 Nothing about Manu exiting that contract has been formally announced by the club or the player's management yet.