Manu puts Roosters in awkward position

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

From the Herald...

Joseph Manu has told the Roosters he wants to change positions as he attempts to negotiate a rich new deal – and the club may need to bow to his request to keep him.

The Roosters have been discussing last-ditch tactics to prevent Manu testing his value on the open market from Sunday. Players who are out of contract for 2023 are able to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1. Central to the Roosters’ planning to keep Manu will be a meeting with coach Trent Robinson, who is due to resume work this week.

The Roosters tried to tie Manu to a new deal, but he wants to be considered a five-eighth or fullback. The Roosters have those positions well covered with stars Luke Keary and James Tedesco.

Manu has been told he has to be patient if he wants to secure his future at the club in either of those positions. He could be forced to wait three years for an opportunity. If that’s a non-negotiable, he will need to look elsewhere.

What will work in the Roosters’ favour is the way they cared for Manu after he busted his cheekbone against South Sydney in round 24. The club rallied around him and showed just how much he is valued. Manu will be offered similar money to what the Roosters were willing to pay Latrell Mitchell – $800,000. The Roosters won’t match the $1million-plus deals he will be able to get elsewhere.

[Kelby]

From the Herald...

Joseph Manu has told the Roosters he wants to change positions as he attempts to negotiate a rich new deal – and the club may need to bow to his request to keep him.

The Roosters have been discussing last-ditch tactics to prevent Manu testing his value on the open market from Sunday. Players who are out of contract for 2023 are able to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1. Central to the Roosters’ planning to keep Manu will be a meeting with coach Trent Robinson, who is due to resume work this week.

The Roosters tried to tie Manu to a new deal, but he wants to be considered a five-eighth or fullback. The Roosters have those positions well covered with stars Luke Keary and James Tedesco.

Manu has been told he has to be patient if he wants to secure his future at the club in either of those positions. He could be forced to wait three years for an opportunity. If that’s a non-negotiable, he will need to look elsewhere.

What will work in the Roosters’ favour is the way they cared for Manu after he busted his cheekbone against South Sydney in round 24. The club rallied around him and showed just how much he is valued. Manu will be offered similar money to what the Roosters were willing to pay Latrell Mitchell – $800,000. The Roosters won’t match the $1million-plus deals he will be able to get elsewhere.

I love Manu but..................
blackmailing the club for his own interests / money grab, bye.

800K is a lot for a centre.

[TeddyGoat]

I don't have a bad word to say about Joey. For the development of his career it is best he moves to a spine position rather than centre. We've been saying it for years that he is too talented to sit out at centre and needs the footy in his hands as much as possible as he makes things happen. It is a shame in that respects that we have probably the 2 best players in their positions in those positions which makes Joey's request almost impossible to achieve.

Hope we can get him and a good deal and both parties agree despite it looking unlikely.

Manu will always be one of my favourite Roosters though regardless of if he leaves or not - a true pleasure to watch and was a massive part of our b2b premierships.

[Noosa Rooster]

I love Manu but..................
blackmailing the club for his own interests / money grab, bye.

800K is a lot for a centre.

I very much doubt that Joey would lower himself to blackmail and no where in that article does it suggest that.

800K may be a lot for a centre but for one that covers fullback and five-eight better than most others playing permanently in those positions it's a steal.

It's a tough decision for him or anyone else in that position. Good luck to him.

Earlier in the year, Cooper Cronk touched on how close Joey's relationship with Robbo was, even suggesting that Robbo was his 2nd father. At least with a relationship like that I would expect that Joey would give the Roosters the last crack at keeping him.

[Billy Gunn]

I would offer him a 1 year extension for whatever we could because I really believe that the second fullback - 5/8 is important in the new version of League. Plus add to them Keary's head knocks in recent years and another year in both Suaalii and Walker's development Manu might not be the priority.

[Horry]

I think maybe with the uncertainty of Keary and the head knocks he has had the club maybe looking at him to cover/replace Keary and in a few years be that guy. Who knows. I don't want him to leave.

And as i posted this i saw Billy Gunns post!

[roostersrule2]

Manu to 9 is happening.

[roosterchook]

Keary is next for retirement should he take another serious head knock and who better than Manu to steer us round the park? I don’t have much confidence in Keary anymore because of all the concussions. Manu is a utility player who can cover many spots including fullback when required. We need to keep him and not give him an early release.

[JAF]

This is a real tough one. I wonder if this is the reason we have not officially re-signed Angus yet - just waiting to see how much money we have left to spend??

[Thirteen]

Would hate to lose Keary to a concussion retirement and suddenly Joey is playing for another team. Would be tragic.

[Headless Chook]

Keary hasn't missed a game due to a head knock since 2019. Why do poeple think he's a risk of retiring due to head knocks? It's not like Cordner or Friend where it was happening 3 or 4 times a season in the lead up and I remember reading that the longer a player goes without suffering a head knock the less susceptible they are to the repurcussions.

[Monaco's Fan Club]

Manu isn’t a proven 5/8

As much as I want him to be, he isn’t a ball player, has no long kicking game ( a bomb for himself doesn’t count ) and his defence is average

we can’t pay 800k for a what if maybe

Latrell was different. He was a strike Centre, good defensive and goal kicker

[Tommy Smith]

Keary hasn't missed a game due to a head knock since 2019. Why do poeple think he's a risk of retiring due to head knocks? It's not like Cordner or Friend where it was happening 3 or 4 times a season in the lead up and I remember reading that the longer a player goes without suffering a head knock the less susceptible they are to the repurcussions.

Agreed. The Keary "retirement due to head knock" talk is 2 years out of date.

[mattyh]

just a left field suggestion if manu leaves ...


would we consider nick cotric , on the outer at the dogs . at the right price he could thrive in our system and hit his 19 heights again.

wed also get him far cheaper then what we wpuld offer joey so more money in the kitty for a b smith, or a n other signing ?

[ROC181]

I love Manu but..................
blackmailing the club for his own interests / money grab, bye.

800K is a lot for a centre.

You believe some journo out to sell papers over Manu? Manu wouldn't be blackmailing the club, period!