A week after breaking the record for most running metres per game, Manu confirmed that he had signed with Toyota Verblitz, a Japanese rugby union club.
Following in the footsteps of Sonny Bill Williams, Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri, and more recently, Marika Koroibete, Suliasi Vunivalu, and teammate Joseph Suaalii, the 2022 Golden Boot winner is just the latest player to make the switch to the 15-man code.
While Andrew Johns always believed that Manu would take a similar route to Sonny Bill Williams’, he has predicted that the Roosters centre won’t return to the NRL.
“I don’t think he will (comeback),” Johns said on Immortal Behaviour.
“I’d imagine that the All Blacks would be watching this really closely. He has a similar skillset to Sonny when Sonny Bill changed over (to rugby union).
“Sonny’s skill set changed in the way he played, with the one arm offloads. Joey Manu is that sort of player.
“So I’d say that the All Blacks will be watching closely.”
