It’s a long way from the Central North Island of NZ to Sydney (2260kms to be exact!), but that is where Tokoroa-born-and-bred Joseph Manu’s talent landed him, after he was scouted on his local rugby field at the tender age of 14 in 2011.
By 2014 he was playing for the Sydney Rooster’s Under-18 team, which won the premiereship that year - and his NRL career was sealed.
Since debuting for the Sydney Roosters NRL side 2016, he has played in over 90 NRL games, and was a major part of the Roosters back-to-back premiership wins in 2018/2019.
Known in the sporting community for his outstanding work ethic and accountability on the field, Joseph is highly-regarded by his coach, teammates and peers.
These qualities can be attributed back to his strong family-and-faith-based upbringing in small-town NZ. Joseph is of Maori and Cook Island heritage, and one of three energetic boys, who grew up with dad Nooroa and mum Darnel in Tokoroa, attending the local high school.
Joseph and his family are practicing Mormons and his faith underpins everything he does. He is passionate about giving back to his community; whenever Joseph (or “Joey,” as he is affectionately known) is back home in Tokoroa, he always makes time to undertake charity work with his church for local causes.
And his support is returned in spades; pre-Covid dozens of his family and friends would regularly travel to Australia to watch his achievements on the field for significant games (for one premeireship Joseph had up to 30 supporters staying with him at his house!).
With a long and successful career still ahead of him, Joseph will be a fixture in the NRL community across the ditch for years to come. But he’ll always be a self-proclaimed “proud Kiwi.”
Joseph is steadily building his portfolio of brand work, but has worked with Adidas, and is excited to forge more partnerships and collaborations with businesses in the fashion, gaming and eCommerce sectors.
It’s a long way from the Central North Island of NZ to Sydney (2260kms to be exact!), but that is where Tokoroa-born-and-bred Joseph Manu’s talent landed him, after he was scouted on his local rugby field at the tender age of 14 in 2011.
By 2014 he was playing for the Sydney Rooster’s Under-18 team, which won the premiereship that year - and his NRL career was sealed.
Since debuting for the Sydney Roosters NRL side 2016, he has played in over 90 NRL games, and was a major part of the Roosters back-to-back premiership wins in 2018/2019.
Known in the sporting community for his outstanding work ethic and accountability on the field, Joseph is highly-regarded by his coach, teammates and peers.
These qualities can be attributed back to his strong family-and-faith-based upbringing in small-town NZ. Joseph is of Maori and Cook Island heritage, and one of three energetic boys, who grew up with dad Nooroa and mum Darnel in Tokoroa, attending the local high school.
Joseph and his family are practicing Mormons and his faith underpins everything he does. He is passionate about giving back to his community; whenever Joseph (or “Joey,” as he is affectionately known) is back home in Tokoroa, he always makes time to undertake charity work with his church for local causes.
And his support is returned in spades; pre-Covid dozens of his family and friends would regularly travel to Australia to watch his achievements on the field for significant games (for one premeireship Joseph had up to 30 supporters staying with him at his house!).
With a long and successful career still ahead of him, Joseph will be a fixture in the NRL community across the ditch for years to come. But he’ll always be a self-proclaimed “proud Kiwi.”
Joseph is steadily building his portfolio of brand work, but has worked with Adidas, and is excited to forge more partnerships and collaborations with businesses in the fashion, gaming and eCommerce sectors.
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