Roosters star Joey Manu’s future within the NRL is doubtful with a bombshell third choice rising as he contemplates his subsequent transfer.
Manu is off-contract on the finish of subsequent season and Dragons coach Shane Flanagan’s public appeal offensive has backed up studies the membership is keen to interrupt the financial institution to land the Golden Boot winner’s signature.
The scenario has now taken an enormous twist with The Daily Telegraph reporting Manu is now open to creating a bombshell code swap to Japanese rugby.
According to the report, Manu would be capable of command affords of as much as $1.5 million per season within the 15-man code.
In a “Sonny Bill Williams-like move” the door could be open for Manu to play with a Japanese membership for one season by means of to the top of May earlier than returning to the Roosters for the second half of the NRL season in 2025. That state of affairs would seemingly see Manu earn greater than $2 million that yr.
The Roosters have been in negotiations with Manu’s administration a couple of long-term deal for a number of months and the membership has proven no signal of worry that Manu may go away.
The NRL would even have the choice of declining to register Manu’s mid-season return if the league finds the contract had breached wage cap circumstances.
The Japanese rugby choice could be an enormous blow to the Dragons with the membership’s pitch to Manu being that the provide would make Manu one of many highest paid gamers within the NRL — one thing the Roosters are unable to match.
It has beforehand been reported the Dragons had been ready to supply as much as $5 million and a four-year contract to tempt him to make the soar to the rival membership.
Flanagan admitted final month, nonetheless, it’s seemingly Manu will stay with the Roosters.
“I love Joey Manu, he’s been one of my favourite players for many, many years,” Flanagan mentioned.
“I’m really, really doubtful he’ll leave the Roosters, but I just wanted his management to know that if he wanted, he could be captain, fullback, do whatever he wants.
“I’d definitely want to have a chat with him, but it’s highly unlikely it’ll ever get to that stage.
“I’m not saying I’ll take the captaincy off Ben (Hunt), but I want to get a quality player like Joey, I need to entice him to come down to the club.
“He’s a quality player, but let’s be really honest, I don’t think he’ll move.”
The Dragons have completed inside the highest eight simply twice prior to now 11 seasons, and have ended the yr no higher than tenth since 2019.
Flanagan, who coached the Sharks to a premiership in 2016, has made no secret that he’s chasing famous person gamers to enhance the Dragons’ roster and Manu matches the invoice.
The Dragons have already missed out on the signatures of Warriors ahead Addin Fonua-Blake and Cowboys playmaker Tom Dearden.
The membership has reportedly shifted its focus to prioritise two new recruitment targets — Cowboys pair Heilum Luki and younger gun Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
