Since arguably the NRL's best centre left the game at the end of the 2024 season to pursue a lucrative rugby union career overseas, there has been consistent speculation that he would return to the NRL.
Joey Manu scored 11 tries in his Japanese rugby union debut season for Toyota Verblitz, but the team struggled and finished 10th on the ladder—fueling further speculation about his future in the 15-man code.
Manu’s appearance at his old club, the Sydney Roosters, last month—where he used their training facilities and was spotted in teh crowd with ex-teammates—also sent tongues wagging across the NRL, with Tricolours fans holding their breath that it may have been a sign of things to come.
Roosters fans will be disappointed though, with Racing 92 officially announcing the signing of Manu through to the end of the 2027 French Top 14 season.
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OFFICIAL: Ex-Toyota wing Joseph Manu has signed for Racing 92, as long rumoured. No NRL return or Super Rugby move as many fans hoped for #rugbyjp pic.twitter.com/Ewac6GJCDI
— 🇯🇵 RugbyJP.com (@rugbyjpcom) July 8, 2025
Manu wasn’t the only big-name signing either, with the French club also recruiting former Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou in a bid to bolster their roster.
After a disappointing 9th-place finish in the Top 14 standings, the Paris-based club faced pressure to make major changes and responded with 10 signings ahead of the upcoming season, which begins in August.
Despite months of speculation, the Roosters had publicly ruled out the possibility of Manu returning to Bondi in a mid-season switch during 2025.
However, they have also made no secret of their desire to welcome him back in the future—possibly in 2026—should he choose to return to rugby league. Manu’s new French deal, though, puts to bed any chance of that happening in the short term.
Despite the recent emergence of Robert Toia—who, just months into his NRL career, earned State of Origin selection—it’s still a blow for the Roosters.
The club has seen several high-profile stars leave in recent years and, aside from the acquisition of Cowboys representative hooker Reece Robson, has yet to sign a proven replacement with similar star level experience.
That said, Manu only turned 29 a couple of weeks ago, leaving enough time for a possible NRL return later in his career.
A comeback could even now coincide with the eventual retirement of James Tedesco, which would leave the Roosters’ No.1 jersey vacant—an ideal fit for Manu, who has long been tipped for a permanent move to fullback.
Manu played 181 games for the Roosters, won two premierships, and scored 69 tries in a decorated one-club NRL career. He also made 17 appearances for New Zealand on the international stage as one of the best in international rugby league for a time.
While his impact in French rugby is expected to be immediate, there’s still hope for NRL and Roosters fans that they’ll see him back in the league one day—just not until at least 2028.