NRL

Joseph Manu is officially returning to the NRL, with the former Sydney Roosters superstar signing a two-year deal to join the PNG Chiefs for their inaugural season in 2028.

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Manu will become the seventh player secured by the expansion franchise and will join the Chiefs for the 2028 and 2029 seasons after completing his time in French rugby union.

The 30-year-old has been playing with Racing 92 in France since leaving the Roosters at the end of 2024, bringing an end to his first stint in the NRL after 181 games with the Tricolours.

His return gives the Chiefs another genuine marquee player and further strengthens a backline that is already shaping as one of the most exciting in the competition before the club has even played a game.

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Manu joins former Roosters teammate Connor Watson among the Chiefs’ signings, while Jarome Luai, Brian To’o, Zac Lomax and Alex Johnston provide an extraordinary collection of attacking talent already committed to the expansion side.

Chiefs CEO Lorna McPherson described Manu as another key addition whose value would extend beyond his performances on the field.

“Joey is another key signing for us and a further demonstration of the ambition we have for this club in making an impact for the people of Papua New Guinea,” McPherson said.

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“His connection to the Pacific, his character, experience and standing in the game will have a profound impact on our club.” McPherson continued.

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Manu established himself as one of the NRL’s most dangerous and versatile backs during his time at the Roosters, capable of playing centre, fullback and five-eighth at an elite level.

He scored 69 tries across his 181 appearances and was a key member of the Roosters teams that won consecutive premierships in 2018 and 2019.

His achievements also extend to the international stage, where Manu has played 17 Tests for New Zealand and was recognised as the world’s leading international player when he won the Golden Boot in 2022.

With Luai directing the side and a potential backline featuring the likes of Manu, To’o, Lomax and Johnston, the Chiefs are assembling considerably more than simply a competitive foundation roster for their first season.

Manu’s decision also means one of the NRL’s biggest stars of the past decade will officially return to rugby league after his stint in French Rugby, with the Chiefs increasingly building a squad capable of making an immediate impact when they enter the competition in 2028.

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