NRL Sydney Roosters

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Sydney Roosters superstar Joey Manu is considering a shock code switch for a stint in rugby union which could land him a $1.5 million payday.

It is understood Manu has explored options to play rugby overseas — potentially in Japan — when his deal with the Roosters expires at the end of the 2024 NRL season.

The move to rugby could be as short as one season with Manu able to pocket more than $1.5 million a season to play in Japan.

The mini-stint abroad would then allow Manu to return to the Roosters, who are locked in discussions with the former Golden Boot winner about a multi-year contract extension.

They are aware of Manu’s rugby flirtation and are comfortable that, regardless, Manu will remain at the Bondi club long term. It just depends whether that includes a short-term move overseas.

The Roosters are unable to match the money Manu could earn, not only in rugby union, but on the open market in the NRL.

St George Illawarra would be prepared to offer Manu about $1.3 million a season, but he has given no indication that he would be prepared to join a rival club and play against the Roosters, the club he debuted for as a 19-year-old in 2016.

The Japanese rugby season runs between December and May, meaning Manu would miss at least the first 10 rounds of the Roosters’ campaign. However, Manu could return midway through 2025 and earn up to $2 million for a year’s work between the two codes.

The NRL would need to sign off on any contract and have previously been lukewarm to players switching between codes on short-term contracts, as it could be seen as circumventing the salary cap.

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall once tried to undertake a similar deal a decade ago when he was one the highest-profile players in the game but that was quashed before it got off the ground.

The difference though, was that Marshall was mid-contract at the Tigers and Manu, is off-contract, so he is technically free to do as he pleases.

However, the NRL may not register Manu’s new Roosters deal until he returned from playing overseas.

The Roosters are in the midst of their own tit-for-tat battle with rugby union. They have signed Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase on a two-year contract from 2025, but they will lose Joseph Sua’ali’i at the end of next year.

Emerging back-rower Siua Wong had interest from rugby before inking a new deal to remain at the Roosters until 2026. The Roosters have also re-signed Nat Butcher, Sitili Tupouniua, Connor Watson and Naufahu Whyte in recent months.

Aside from Manu, Angus Crichton, Billy Smith, Daniel Tupou, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke Keary and Terrell May are off-contract at the end of 2024.

NRL players have had mixed results playing rugby in Japan. Manu’s former Roosters teammate Blake Ferguson was sacked before he even stepped foot on the field by NEC Green Rockets after being arrested for drug possession in 2022.

Covid-19 interrupted Will Chambers’ and Jordan Rapana’s respective stints in Japan.
 
Noitall said:
Sydney Roosters superstar Joey Manu is considering a shock code switch for a stint in rugby union which could land him a $1.5 million payday.

It is understood Manu has explored options to play rugby overseas — potentially in Japan — when his deal with the Roosters expires at the end of the 2024 NRL season.

The move to rugby could be as short as one season with Manu able to pocket more than $1.5 million a season to play in Japan.

The mini-stint abroad would then allow Manu to return to the Roosters, who are locked in discussions with the former Golden Boot winner about a multi-year contract extension.

They are aware of Manu’s rugby flirtation and are comfortable that, regardless, Manu will remain at the Bondi club long term. It just depends whether that includes a short-term move overseas.

The Roosters are unable to match the money Manu could earn, not only in rugby union, but on the open market in the NRL.

St George Illawarra would be prepared to offer Manu about $1.3 million a season, but he has given no indication that he would be prepared to join a rival club and play against the Roosters, the club he debuted for as a 19-year-old in 2016.

The Japanese rugby season runs between December and May, meaning Manu would miss at least the first 10 rounds of the Roosters’ campaign. However, Manu could return midway through 2025 and earn up to $2 million for a year’s work between the two codes.

The NRL would need to sign off on any contract and have previously been lukewarm to players switching between codes on short-term contracts, as it could be seen as circumventing the salary cap.

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall once tried to undertake a similar deal a decade ago when he was one the highest-profile players in the game but that was quashed before it got off the ground.

The difference though, was that Marshall was mid-contract at the Tigers and Manu, is off-contract, so he is technically free to do as he pleases.

However, the NRL may not register Manu’s new Roosters deal until he returned from playing overseas.

The Roosters are in the midst of their own tit-for-tat battle with rugby union. They have signed Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase on a two-year contract from 2025, but they will lose Joseph Sua’ali’i at the end of next year.

Emerging back-rower Siua Wong had interest from rugby before inking a new deal to remain at the Roosters until 2026. The Roosters have also re-signed Nat Butcher, Sitili Tupouniua, Connor Watson and Naufahu Whyte in recent months.

Aside from Manu, Angus Crichton, Billy Smith, Daniel Tupou, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke Keary and Terrell May are off-contract at the end of 2024.

NRL players have had mixed results playing rugby in Japan. Manu’s former Roosters teammate Blake Ferguson was sacked before he even stepped foot on the field by NEC Green Rockets after being arrested for drug possession in 2022.

Covid-19 interrupted Will Chambers’ and Jordan Rapana’s respective stints in Japan.
Click to expand...
The Warriors aren’t playing ball so union has been bought in to drive up his next league contract. 🙄
 
wizard of Tauranga said:
The Warriors aren’t playing ball so union has been bought in to drive up his next league contract. 🙄
Click to expand...
Could he really make 1.5 playing union? I’ve looked into this before and there’s really only a handful of players in Japan making that kinda money- the average wage is less than the nrl.
Why would u pay a league player that when u could get an experienced union international?
 
Defence said:
Could he really make 1.5 playing union? I’ve looked into this before and there’s really only a handful of players in Japan making that kinda money- the average wage is less than the nrl.
Why would u pay a league player that when u could get an experienced union international?
Click to expand...
Exactly!

Sort of feel Manu’s value was more 2-3 years ago and he’s stagnated at centre rather than being worth more as a potential superstar fullback.
 
It will be interesting to see who they recruit and how many players they bring in.

They have had a few years where they have brought in quite a few big names. The years they brought in SBW I remember their in list was pretty amazing.

It will also be interesting to see how much of refreshing their squad to cover the guys aging or leaving is done via recruitment. A lot of talk around the competition is to follow the Panthers and go down the development path. Gould has criticised clubs in the past for not developing. Will he criticise the Roosters?

Mind you if it works and they get success the main issue is the disruption to their competitors who lose their good players.

The old reasoning was the Roosters don't have a large catchment area for development. Gould has said himself recently the old boundaries no longer matter.
 
Interested to see how Fafita goes at the Roosters.

The first month or so when he is motivated might be impressive. It is years 2-4 of the deal that will be interesting to see.

Is he consistent or drifting in and out of games.
 
Rugby league powerhouse, the Sydney Roosters, are setting up a South Island academy at Rolleston College.

The school will host the Roosters’ academy from next year, with the NRL club set to hold camps and clinics in Rolleston from March.

The Roosters are one of the most decorated NRL clubs, winning 15 premierships, most recently in 2019.

They finished third in the latest season, making the preliminary final before losing to Melbourne Storm.

Rolleston College deputy principal Alby Wilson said it was exciting to have the Roosters at the college.

“It’s rugby out here, so it’s nice to see another code have an opportunity to grow, and support the local rugby league club, the Rolleston Warriors, in terms of publicity for the sport,” he said.

“We’re pleased to have it and hopeful this goes well and we can continue to grow that partnership.”

The agreement will see the club host training camps and clinics using the school’s facilities, which will allow the Roosters to assess young players coming from throughout the country, but mainly from the South Island.

Rolleston College came onto the NRL club’s radar thanks to a prior connection between Wilson, the teacher in charge of rugby league at the school, and Archie Jacobs, the lead recruiter for the Roosters in Canterbury and head coach of the Eastern Eagles premier team.

Jacobs said the goal was to provide a pathway from the region to the Roosters youth teams - while boosting local talent.

“There’s talent here, and it’s not always seen,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity just to give students another spot where they can potentially show their skills.

“If we can pick up a couple and they go to that next level, then awesome, and hopefully that translates into a bit more interest and playing numbers in our game down here.”

Jacobs said Rolleston College was preferred by the Roosters because of its facilities.

“They’ve got a gymnasium with two full-size basketball courts, so there’s plenty of space if we want to do some ball work inside.

“They’ve got a weights gym, classrooms with technology so we can link laptops.

“We’ve got access to the kitchen if we want to put on some lunch for the boys, showers if we need to use those, and a footy ground in great nick.

“Those sort of things are easy to access, all in one space.”

Wilson said it is possible the school could recommend rugby union players to the Roosters recruiters. “I think us having a connection now, we potentially have the ability to say: ‘In Selwyn there are a few rugby boys that deserve a look, what would it look like if they were to join a clinic or two?’

“At college, we’re not a rugby club, we’re not a league club, we’re a sports club.

“We just want people being active, it doesn’t matter what code they’re playing, as long as they’re having active participation in something.”

Rolleston Rugby Club president Nicky Ruki said she was not too worried about the possibility of the club losing players. The majority of their teenage players represent Rolleston College, rather than the club, she said.

“We’re not losing anything more than what we’re losing now,” Ruki said.

“Maybe a few more that decide they might change to league but, if they were going to play rugby union, they were potentially going to play at the school anyway.

“I don’t think it’s going to impact us hugely.”
 
WahsaurusRex said:
Rugby league powerhouse, the Sydney Roosters, are setting up a South Island academy at Rolleston College.

The school will host the Roosters’ academy from next year, with the NRL club set to hold camps and clinics in Rolleston from March.

The Roosters are one of the most decorated NRL clubs, winning 15 premierships, most recently in 2019.

They finished third in the latest season, making the preliminary final before losing to Melbourne Storm.

Rolleston College deputy principal Alby Wilson said it was exciting to have the Roosters at the college.

“It’s rugby out here, so it’s nice to see another code have an opportunity to grow, and support the local rugby league club, the Rolleston Warriors, in terms of publicity for the sport,” he said.

“We’re pleased to have it and hopeful this goes well and we can continue to grow that partnership.”

The agreement will see the club host training camps and clinics using the school’s facilities, which will allow the Roosters to assess young players coming from throughout the country, but mainly from the South Island.

Rolleston College came onto the NRL club’s radar thanks to a prior connection between Wilson, the teacher in charge of rugby league at the school, and Archie Jacobs, the lead recruiter for the Roosters in Canterbury and head coach of the Eastern Eagles premier team.

Jacobs said the goal was to provide a pathway from the region to the Roosters youth teams - while boosting local talent.

“There’s talent here, and it’s not always seen,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity just to give students another spot where they can potentially show their skills.

“If we can pick up a couple and they go to that next level, then awesome, and hopefully that translates into a bit more interest and playing numbers in our game down here.”

Jacobs said Rolleston College was preferred by the Roosters because of its facilities.

“They’ve got a gymnasium with two full-size basketball courts, so there’s plenty of space if we want to do some ball work inside.

“They’ve got a weights gym, classrooms with technology so we can link laptops.

“We’ve got access to the kitchen if we want to put on some lunch for the boys, showers if we need to use those, and a footy ground in great nick.

“Those sort of things are easy to access, all in one space.”

Wilson said it is possible the school could recommend rugby union players to the Roosters recruiters. “I think us having a connection now, we potentially have the ability to say: ‘In Selwyn there are a few rugby boys that deserve a look, what would it look like if they were to join a clinic or two?’

“At college, we’re not a rugby club, we’re not a league club, we’re a sports club.

“We just want people being active, it doesn’t matter what code they’re playing, as long as they’re having active participation in something.”

Rolleston Rugby Club president Nicky Ruki said she was not too worried about the possibility of the club losing players. The majority of their teenage players represent Rolleston College, rather than the club, she said.

“We’re not losing anything more than what we’re losing now,” Ruki said.

“Maybe a few more that decide they might change to league but, if they were going to play rugby union, they were potentially going to play at the school anyway.

“I don’t think it’s going to impact us hugely.”
Click to expand...
Something feels to me like the roosters are in for some lean years. Losing a huge amount of talent, they aren’t having an impact in the player market at the moment either
 
Would this have any impact on the proposed ChCh team. Pretty smart move on Roosters part to rip up the best of the young talent in the SI while there is no opposiition or is this the normal Rooosters hunting ground.
 
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