BY MATT LOGUE
hail Vatuvei: you can be our wingman anytime
WARRIORS man mountain Manu Vatuvei is being hailed the NRL's most explosive winger by team-mates, with the 20-year-old set to wreak havoc in the second half of the season.
Despite missing six of the Warriors' past eight matches with a hamstring injury, Vatuvei cut loose against the rookie Roosters at Aussie Stadium last Sunday.
The Kiwi-born flyer with Tongan heritage scored two tries and set up another in a dominating display that is sure to have New Zealand coach Brian McClennan salivating.
Tipping the scales at 109kg, Vatuvei is a modern-day wrecking ball Warriors officials have branded "Our Jonah Lomu".
Skipper Ruben Wiki is one bloke rapt to have his fellow Otahuhu junior back and in barnstorming form.
"We've really missed Manu's ability to terrorise the opposition," Wiki says. "He's a big man who runs like the wind and when he's
"Wingers love space and when Manu's got it he's unstoppable. Getting the four points deducted hasn't helped our finals cause but with a bloke like Manu back and firing, I'm confident we'll make a late charge."
Warriors sports science co-ordinator Dayne Norton rates Vatuvei among the best young athletes he has worked with.
"Once Manu gets going I don't even think a runaway freight train would stop him," Norton beams. "He's one of the best athletes I've ever seen ... big, strong and quick with the ability to move laterally.
"In my opinion he's up there with the strength of Lomu and the elusive speed of (All Blacks winger) Doug Howlett."
Front-rower Evarn Tuimavave is also full of praise for his team-mate who started playing league at the age of eight after scouts noticed him at an athletics carnival.
"Manu's the mean part of our team," Tuimavave says. "When he's on fire he just goes to town and, let's be honest, I wouldn't get in his way. I think you just shut your eyes and hope for the best – or run in the opposite direction!â€Â
hail Vatuvei: you can be our wingman anytime
WARRIORS man mountain Manu Vatuvei is being hailed the NRL's most explosive winger by team-mates, with the 20-year-old set to wreak havoc in the second half of the season.
Despite missing six of the Warriors' past eight matches with a hamstring injury, Vatuvei cut loose against the rookie Roosters at Aussie Stadium last Sunday.
The Kiwi-born flyer with Tongan heritage scored two tries and set up another in a dominating display that is sure to have New Zealand coach Brian McClennan salivating.
Tipping the scales at 109kg, Vatuvei is a modern-day wrecking ball Warriors officials have branded "Our Jonah Lomu".
Skipper Ruben Wiki is one bloke rapt to have his fellow Otahuhu junior back and in barnstorming form.
"We've really missed Manu's ability to terrorise the opposition," Wiki says. "He's a big man who runs like the wind and when he's
"Wingers love space and when Manu's got it he's unstoppable. Getting the four points deducted hasn't helped our finals cause but with a bloke like Manu back and firing, I'm confident we'll make a late charge."
Warriors sports science co-ordinator Dayne Norton rates Vatuvei among the best young athletes he has worked with.
"Once Manu gets going I don't even think a runaway freight train would stop him," Norton beams. "He's one of the best athletes I've ever seen ... big, strong and quick with the ability to move laterally.
"In my opinion he's up there with the strength of Lomu and the elusive speed of (All Blacks winger) Doug Howlett."
Front-rower Evarn Tuimavave is also full of praise for his team-mate who started playing league at the age of eight after scouts noticed him at an athletics carnival.
"Manu's the mean part of our team," Tuimavave says. "When he's on fire he just goes to town and, let's be honest, I wouldn't get in his way. I think you just shut your eyes and hope for the best – or run in the opposite direction!â€Â
