![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full name | Joseph Manu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Hamilton, New Zealand | 29 June 1996|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 192 cm (6 ft 4 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 98 kg (15 st 6 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Centre, Fullback, Wing, Five-eighth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As of 16 August 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
|
Joseph Manu (born 29 June 1996) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre , fullback , winger or five-eighth for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL), and New Zealand at international level. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest centres in the game. [3]
Manu was a member of the 2018 and 2019 NRL Grand Final championship Roosters rosters.
Manu was born in Hamilton, New Zealand, and is of Māori and Cook Island descent. [4] He was raised in Tokoroa. [5]
Manu played his junior rugby league for Tokoroa High School before being signed by the Sydney Roosters. [6] [7]
Having won the S. G. Ball Cup with the Roosters in 2014, Manu travelled to Glasgow to represent Australia in an under-19s rugby league nines tournament at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, [8] where Australia finished in second place. Manu moved into the Roosters' NYC team by the end of the year, where he played until 2016, scoring 34 tries in 48 games. [9] [10] On 2 May 2015, Manu played for the Junior Kiwis against the Junior Kangaroos, playing on the wing and scoring a try in the 22-20 loss at Robina Stadium. [11] On 16 June 2015, Manu re-signed with the Roosters on a 2-year contract. [12] On 14 September 2015, Manu was named on the wing in the 2015 NYC team of the year as he scored 22 tries in 24 matches for the year. [13]
In February 2016, Manu was selected in the Roosters 2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad. [14]
In Round 15 of the 2016 NRL season, Manu made his NRL debut for the Sydney Roosters against the New Zealand Warriors, playing on the wing in the 12-10 loss at Mt Smart Stadium. [15] On 5 September 2016, Manu was named on the wing in the 2016 NYC Team of the Year. [16] On 2 October 2016, Manu played on the wing in the Roosters 2016 Holden Cup Grand Final against the Penrith Panthers, scoring 2 tries in the comeback 30-28 victory after being down 28-6 at halftime. [17] On 11 October 2016, Manu extended his contract with the Roosters to the end of the 2018 season. Manu finished his debut season in the NRL playing in 3 matches for the Roosters in the 2016 NRL season. [18]
In February 2017, Manu was selected in the Roosters 2017 NRL Auckland Nines winning squad. [19]
In Round 7 against the Newcastle Knights, Manu scored his first NRL career try in the Roosters 24-6 win at Hunter Stadium. [20] Manu finished the 2017 NRL season with playing in 16 matches and scoring 5 tries. Manu was overlooked for the Roosters finals series and played for the Wyong Roos in which they made the 2017 NSW Cup against the Penrith Panthers but lost 20-12 at Leichhardt Oval. [21]
On 20 March 2018, Manu extended his contract with the Roosters to the end of the 2020 season. [22] On 30 September 2018, Manu played in the 2018 NRL Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm, playing at centre and scoring a try in the 21-6 win. [23] In the final minutes of the match, Manu was on the receiving end of a kick to the head while he was on the ground by Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster in which Munster sin binned for the second time in the match. [24] Manu had an enjoyable 2018 NRL season, playing in 26 matches and scoring 8 tries. The day after the Grand Final win, Manu was selected in the New Zealand national rugby league team 23-man squad for their one-off test against Australia and their tour of England. [25]
On 13 October 2018, Manu made his international debut for New Zealand against Australia, playing at centre and scoring a try in a sensational debut as the Kiwis pulled off a 26-24 win at Mt Smart Stadium. [26]
Manu made 25 appearances for the Sydney Roosters in the 2019 NRL season as the club finished second on the table and qualified for the finals.
Manu played at centre in the club's 2019 NRL Grand Final victory over the Canberra Raiders at ANZ Stadium. [27]
On 22 February, Manu played for the Sydney Roosters in their 2020 World Club Challenge victory defeating St Helens 20-12. [28]
Manu played 21 games for the Sydney Roosters in the 2020 NRL season. The club finished fourth on the table and qualified for the finals but lost both games to be eliminated in straight sets ending their quest for a third straight premiership. [29]
In round 12 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored two tries in a 44-16 victory over Canberra. [30]
In the round 24 match against arch-rivals South Sydney, former teammate Latrell Mitchell hit Manu with a high and late shot to the head, resulting in a season-ending depressed cheekbone fracture. The Sydney Roosters would go on to lose the match 54-12. [31] On 29 November 2021 after a speculated move to the New Zealand Warriors, Manu extended his contract to start with the Sydney Roosters until the end of 2024.
In round 4 of the 2022 NRL season, he scored two tries for the Sydney Roosters in a 28-4 victory over North Queensland. The following week, he scored a further two tries in a 24-20 victory over Brisbane. In round 18, Manu scored two tries in a 54-26 victory over St. George Illawarra. [32]
In October he was named in the New Zealand squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. [33]
In November he was named in the 2021 RLWC Team of the Tournament and was named the winner of the Golden Boot, for the best international player of the year. [34]
In round 3 of the 2023 NRL season, Manu was sent to the sin bin during the Sydney Roosters 20-18 victory over arch-rivals South Sydney. [35] Manu played 21 matches for the Sydney Roosters in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 7th on the table and qualified for the finals. Manu played in the clubs elimination finals victory over Cronulla but missed the following weeks match against Melbourne in which the Sydney Rooster lost 17-13. [36]
In round 3 of the 2024 NRL season, Manu scored two tries for the Sydney Roosters in their 48-6 victory over arch-rivals South Sydney. [37] On 16 April, it was reported that Manu had signed a one-year deal to join Japanese Rugby Union side Toyota Verblitz starting in 2025. [38] In round 8 of the 2024 NRL season, Manu scored two tries for the Sydney Roosters in their 60-18 victory over St. George Illawarra in the traditional ANZAC Day game. [39] In round 12, Manu scored two tries for the Sydney Roosters in their 44-16 win over Canberra. [40]
Manu Mapuhola Mafi-Vatuvei, also known by the nickname "The Beast", is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who was both a Tonga and New Zealand international representative winger. He previously played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL and for the Salford Red Devils in the Super League. Vatuvei was a member of the New Zealand national team that won the 2008 World Cup. He became the Warriors' top try scorer, and the first player in NRL history to score at least 10 tries in 10 consecutive seasons.
Frank Semu Pritchard, also known by the nicknames "Cranky" and "Frank the Tank", is a former professional rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand and Samoa at international level. A second-row, he played in the National Rugby League for Sydney clubs the Penrith Panthers, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Parramatta Eels during the 2000s and 2010s. Pritchard also played in the Super League for English club Hull FC.
Shaun Kenny-Dowall is a New Zealand international former rugby league footballer who last played as a centre and winger for Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League. He was also the club captain.
Jordan Rapana is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for the New Zealand Māori, New Zealand and the Cook Islands at international level.
James Tamou is a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop and represented Australia and the New Zealand Maori at an international level. Tamou spent most of his career with the North Queensland Cowboys and was a member of their 2015 NRL Grand Final winning side
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL) and New Zealand at international level.
Brad Takairangi is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth or centre. He has played for the Cook Islands, New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori at international level.
Shaun Johnson is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who played as a halfback for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Sam Kasiano is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Dapto Canaries in the Illawarra Rugby League. He is both a New Zealand and Samoan international.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is a New Zealand dual-code rugby international footballer who currently plays as a centre for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League.
Konileti "Konrad" Hurrell is a Tongan professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for St Helens in the Super League and Tonga at international level.
Mark Nicholls is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Peta Hiku is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who plays as a centre, winger and fullback for Hull KR in the Betfred Super League, and New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori at international level.
Manu Maʻu is a rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Catalans Dragons in the Betfred Super League. He has played for both Tonga and New Zealand at international level.
Joseph Tapine is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop, lock and second-row for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League (NRL), and for New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori at international level.
Fa'amanu Brown is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for the St. George Illawarra Dragons and has represented Samoa and New Zealand at international level. He played as a halfback, five-eighth and lock earlier in his career.
Kodi Nikorima is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth, halfback and fullback for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Nelson Asofa-Solomona is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL) and New Zealand at international level.
Latrell Mitchell is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League (NRL), and has represented both New South Wales in the State of Origin series and Australia at international level as a centre.
Taane Milne is a Fiji international rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.