Joey Manu to leave Sydney Roosters for Japanese rugby union club Toyota Verblitz

Sydney Roosters centre Joey Manu has announced that he will be leaving the NRL at the end of the season to join Japanese rugby union club Toyota Verblitz. The move has been in the works for months and was officially confirmed by both clubs on Tuesday.

Manu, a New Zealand international, expressed his gratitude towards the Roosters and the NRL, stating that it was a tough decision to leave the club. He will be joining a star-studded lineup at Verblitz, which includes All Blacks fly half Beauden Barrett and Springboks star Pieter-Steph du Toit.

Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, who is now the director of rugby at Verblitz, sees Manu as a versatile player who can excel in multiple positions on the field. Hansen believes that Manu’s skills and work ethic will make for a smooth transition to union.

During his time with the Roosters, Manu has achieved great success, winning two premierships in 2018 and 2019. He was named the Dally M centre of the year in 2022 and also received the Golden Boot award for being the best player in international rugby league.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson expressed his support for Manu’s decision to pursue new challenges overseas with his family. He emphasized that Manu will always be a Rooster and that the club looks forward to sharing the upcoming season with him.

Manu’s departure comes at the same time as fellow Roosters player Joseph Sua’ali’i’s move to the NSW Waratahs, highlighting a trend of NRL players transitioning to rugby union. With his impressive track record and skills on the field, Manu is sure to make a significant impact at Toyota Verblitz in the upcoming season.