Joey Manu’s admission that a change in New Zealand player policy will likely be needed to give the All Blacks a chance may surprise the man who recruited him to the Roosters – Steve Hansen.
The legendary All Blacks coach will welcome Manu to the Toyota Verblitz for next season and had a different take on Manu’s All Blacks ambitions when speaking to the Roar Rugby Podcast this week.
Manu told The Daily Telegraph he had no desire to return to New Zealand to play Super Rugby at the end of his one-year contract in Japan. As things stand, he may not be part of the All Blacks while playing rugby abroad. It’s a burning issue in New Zealand, as the New Zealanders find themselves behind South Africa and Ireland in the battle for top spot in the world rankings.
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said he was also being pushed by NRL great Andrew Johns to push for a change that would allow Japan-based Richie Mo’unga to play from Japan. Manu lives his last days in the Gauls. “Here (Turks) I have never known anything else. I came to Australia at the age of 16 and immediately joined the Gauls. I have been here more than ten years and I have loved every moment, I have known the place, the club, everything,” he told the Telegraph.
“Playing for the All Blacks was always something I wanted to do, but playing overseas makes it a bit more difficult. We have to go back to New Zealand to play and the Super Rugby competition doesn’t really interest me at the moment . “It’s not really exciting for me. I want to go out to Japan and discover a new life. Playing for the All Blacks straight away, I’d love to do that, but going back to New Zealand at the moment is not really a priority for me .
“I hope they change the rules. I want to spend some time at Union. I want to do some things here first, learn the game It won’t be easy and it will take time to really do what I want to do. »
Hansen, who will join Toyota Verblitz alongside Ian Foster, told the Roar he had high hopes Manu would find success in rugby, but success would not come immediately.
“It’s the most important thing, we have to integrate,” said Hansen.
“We can’t just snap our fingers and expect him to be a superstar, even if he is a coded superstar.
“They are different games. We have to give him some rest too. He had a very important season, even though he broke his hand and had a few weeks off. “We will bring him slowly and make him feel part of the group and gradually familiarize him with the game to know what he has learned from his years as a player. As a fullback, it is a little easier. I think we will play in the center it will be a little more difficult because there is a lot more.
“But if we play in the back three, especially at the back, I think he is very good under high balls. He is an excellent returner of the ball. I can’t tell you how he’s able to hit the ball, it’s a skill. “He’s an athlete, so you can teach him how to hit the ball.
“Put him in a position where he’s comfortable and where he knows he can do some things really well, then slowly ease him into the game so he doesn’t lose confidence.
“It will be important. Every time I had a conversation with him, he really impressed me. I think he is a great man. »
Hansen said Manu came to rugby for “all the right reasons, and none of them are money.