NRL 2021: Joey Manu considers All Blacks move, Sharks sign Kai O’Donnell, Moses Mbye set to join Dragons

Joey Manu is set to attract big money offers in the NRL, but a shock code switch could be on the cards though it comes with a catch.

The Roosters will pull out all the stops to keep star centre Joseph Manu at the club amid a host of interest from NRL rivals and rugby union for league’s hottest free agent.

Rivals are assembling their artillery for November 1, the day they can negotiate with Manu for the 2023 season, and the race will only heat up as the Kiwi superstar continues to shine.

Manu’s skill, versatility and athleticism has even had him linked to a potential move to New Zealand rugby, following in the footsteps of Warriors skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

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“Joey has always been important to us, ever since he was a kid and came over here and started playing you could see what he means to us as a team,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.

“I don’t need to add much more other than he’s been a Rooster, he is a Rooster and his family are Roosters as well. We understand it’d be mad if there wasn’t interest but we definitely want to keep him as a Rooster.”

Joseph Manu is considering a shock code switch to potentially play for the All Blacks at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Picture: AAP.

Having grown up in Tokoroa, 200km south of Auckland, Manu, 25, may soon need to decide between Kiwi passion or Aussie pay. Manu, who comes off contract after next season, is expected to become the next NRL star to be paid $1m a season.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the New Zealand Rugby Union has a genuine interest in Manu but could only offer $600,000 a season, a joint contract between the NZRU and a Super Rugby franchise.

That cash ceiling comes because 2023 – when Manu is available – is a World Cup year and the NZRU has a full roster of expensive players on its books.

Manu could be left to decide between an All Blacks jumper at $600,000 or an NRL deal worth $1m. In 2019, Manu declared he would one day “love” to represent the All Blacks.

The NZRU hasn’t approached Manu but well-placed sources indicate interest is there and the Roosters champion is being monitored.

Against the odds, the NZRU managed to pinch former Roosters and Warriors champion Roger Tuivasa-Sheck from the NRL.

Joseph Manu could attract offers of up to $1 million a season if he choses to stay in the NRL. Picture: Getty Images.

Tuivasa-Sheck accepted a pay cut for his chance at an All Blacks jumper.

The NZRU has been able to alleviate some player payments this year by allowing Beauden Barrett (Sungoliath Suntory) and Brodie Retallick (Kobelco Kobe Steelers) to play in Japan.

Should he defect, Manu would have just one season - 2023 – to master his new code and push for a World Cup position.

Sources also say Manu could also look to sign a three-year deal with an NRL club – ending in 2025 – before targeting the 2027 rugby union World Cup, set to be played in Australia.

New Zealand Warriors have targeted Manu, who becomes a free agent from November 1, with club recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan labelling him a “star.”

“We along with 10 other clubs will throw our hat in the ring,” said O’Sullivan. “He is a star player and a Kiwi so he’s a perfect fit for us.”

The Warriors would use Manu as a five-eighth. The Roosters desperately want to retain Manu, who has developed into a world-class player over the past five years.

Club recruitment managers believe Manu should slip past the $1m a season mark, at worst around $900,000 a year. There is little doubt Manu could attract more money if signed as a fullback or five-eighth. He could also pull some decent third party agreements back in New Zealand by joining the Warriors.

Manu has expressed a desire to play for the All Blacks but would have to potentially take a $400k paycut to make it happen. Picture: Getty Images.

One leading NRL player manager: “Manu will attract some big money offers but I don’t think he will leave the Roosters. It just depends how much the Roosters can pay him given they still have a hot roster.”

The Roosters also have forwards Angus Crichton and Sio Siua Taukeiaho coming off contract after next season. O’Sullivan has told Roosters chairman Nick Politis of the Warriors’ interest in Manu.

On Fox Sports, former Bulldogs and Dragons forward James Graham said Wests Tigers should consider chasing Manu. “Why don’t they throw the kitchen sink at Joseph Manu,” Graham said. “Pay way overs for him – and not one of these plays around the $800,000 mark – I’m talking some serious money.”

SHARKS THROW FORMER RAIDER A LIFELINE

—David Riccio

Cronulla have extended an NRL lifeline to former Raiders forward Kai O’Donnell after his first-grade career appeared over.

Regarded by the Raiders as physical and a dedicated trainer, O’Donnell will join the Sharks’ bubble later this week after signing a train and trial contract for the remainder of the season.

The Sharks have signed former Canberra Raiders forward Kai O'Donnell.

The 98kg lock-forward was reluctantly released by the Raiders last month as a result of the club needing to cap the amount of players that were allowed to relocate to their Queensland hub at 30.

With no NSW Cup fixtures during the current pandemic, coupled with the Raiders quality of depth in their pack, the 22-year-old accepted his release to take up a contract playing with the Mackay Cutters.

O’Donnell played four matches for the Raiders in 2020 — scoring a try against the Sharks last year — and will be considered by Cronulla coach Josh Hannay over the next fortnight.

He was originally brought to Canberra by Peter Mulholland, the Raiders’ recruitment boss.

DRAGONS CLOSE IN ON NORMAN REPLACEMENT

— James Phelps

Moses Mbye has agreed to join St George Illawarra after being offered a deal for 2021 and beyond after a secret meeting in Brisbane last week.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Wests Tigers utility met with a high-ranking Dragons official last week to discuss a deal to replace five-eighth Corey Norman.

In a socially distanced meeting made possible by a shared team hotel, Mbye expressed his desire to join St George Illawarra from next year after being told the club wanted him for at least a year.

The Tigers on Tuesday night confirmed they were aware of the interest and said they would be willing to release Mbye from the final year of the deal.

Having knocked back an earlier approach for Moses to join the Dragons for the remainder of this season, the Tigers will rubber stamp the move should they be able to reach an “agreeable” financial settlement with their rivals.

Moses Mbye is set to join the Dragons next season. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

While all parties want the deal to go ahead, the Dragons are understood to be seeking Moses on a one-year deal that is subsidised by the Tigers.

Moses is on a deal worth around $800,000 ayear and the Tigers will have to pick up a portion of his wage for the deal to be done.

Mbye’s manager, Sam Ayoub, confirmed his star client would make the switch should the Tigers and Dragons agree on the terms of the deal.

“It is up to the clubs now,” Ayoub said.

“They are the ones that have to negotiate the terms of the deal given he is contracted to the Tigers for another year.”

Looking to free up salary cap cash to recruit both an edge back-rower and front-row forward to the club next year, the Tigers will attempt to save as much cap room as possible when negotiating Mbye’s release.

On the flip side, the Dragons will attempt to make the Tigers pay as much as possible knowing they are looking to offload the highly paid star.

With Jackson Hastings joining the Tigers next year, Adam Doueihi is expected to return to his preferred position at fullback, having switched between five-eighth and centre recently.

Moses Mbye is on big money at Wests Tigers. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

DRAGONS KNUCKLE DOWN FOR FINALS PUSH

— James Phelps

Jack Bird says an end to the Covid ban carnage can save the Dragons’ season.

The backline star is confident that St George Illawarra will make the finals now it is back to “full strength”.

In a bold prediction that comes off the back of three straight losses and a regular season-ending injury to Ben Hunt, Bird said the end of the barbecue breach bans would catapult the Dragons back into premiership contention.

Bolstered by the return of Jack de Belin, Zac Lomax, Daniel Alvaro and Josh McGuire, Bird, who is also returning from his Covid breach suspension, said the Dragons could start a finals-saving hot streak by beating the Raiders in a must-win clash.

“It is going to be a real big boost (to have everyone back),” Bird said.

Jack Bird is confident the Dragons can make the finals. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“The last few weeks have been really bad for us, only winning one game, but with most of our suspensions done and a full team on the paddock, it will be a boost.

“We are out of the eight now but hopefully we can get a win and string a few together with a full-strength team.”

The Dragons’ already faltering season was placed in free fall last month when 13 players were suspended for a combined 20 games for breaching the NRL’s Covid rules by attending a barbecue.

Having lost three of their past four games, the Dragons must win at least three of their remaining clashes to even have a hope.

And with Hunt ruled out for four weeks with a broken arm, the Dragons’ mission almost impossible begins with a clash against the resurgent Raiders.

“Ben is going to be a big loss,” Bird said.

Ben Hunt has been ruled out for four weeks with a broken arm. Picture: NRL Photos

“He has been a great leader all year and one of our best. But with the team we have, near full strength, we have proved we can do it without him.

“We won without him earlier in the year and we can do it again. With the team we have we are a good chance of winning and hopefully we get to the finals without him and then get him back nice and healthy.”

Bird said the heavy loss to the Rabbitohs was largely thanks to the Covid bans.

“It was a tough ask going up against one of the top teams in the competition with a few of us out,” Bird said. “We had a very young squad and it showed out there on the field.”

Andrew McCullough also said the Dragons could bounce back following the 50-14 defeat.

“We can take a lot of positives out of it with all the young blokes we had,” McCullough said. “The opportunity came for those boys but we will see how the team looks this week.”