After months of speculation, the Sydney Roosters confirmed on Tuesday that Joey Manu will depart the club at the end of the 2024 NRL season to pursue a lucrative deal with Japanese Rugby.
Manu will join former All Blacks coach Ian Foster at Toyota Verblitz who play in the Japan Rugby League One competition. Manu’s contract is reportedly worth upwards of $1 million.
SEN’s Corey Parker congratulated Manu on securing the opportunity of lifetime but said the Roosters will feel his loss in years to come.
“He is a terrific player and he will be a massive loss for the Roosters,” Parker said.
“We only have to go back to last week and we saw what he did when he went to fullback.
“He’s also a golden boot winner but he did make it very clear that ever since he turned up for the Roosters, he did have a passion for rugby and wanted to pursue that.
“He’s going to take it on and I believe it is something close to a three-year deal and it'll be north of a million dollars.
“It’s hard to stand in his way in that regard.”
The Roosters will now lose both their centres to the 15-man game with Joseph Suaalii set to depart to Rugby Australia at the end of the season on a $5 million contract over three years.
The focus now turns to the Roosters’ recruitment strategy now that two of their most high profile players are off their payroll.
“This opens a war chest,” Parker declared.
“Nick Politis and Trent Robinson will go on a hunting spree and it’ll be specifically targeted.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they open the doors of the Brisbane Broncos with some of their outside backs and centres who they’ll struggle to keep.
“There are the rumours around Selwyn Cobbo and having links and talks with the Roosters previously.
“He’ll get a tap on the shoulder and so will Kotoni Staggs.”
Staggs and Cobbo are currently contracted at the Broncos until the end of the 2025 season.