Sydney Roosters' Joey Manu has revealed he "would love to play" for the All Blacks one day.
The New Zealand born centre old grew up dreaming of playing for the national rugby team and continues to support them.
He especially loves getting behind them during World Cups, watching the All Blacks take down the Springboks in Japan on Saturday.
"Ever since I was young I wanted to be an All Black. Iโm still a big fan of them," Manu told The Sydney Morning Herald.
"Especially when it comes to World Cupโs. Itโs a pretty big occasion for pretty much all New Zealanders.
"I love [watching] at the moment but one day I would love to play for them."
Manu admits that as a youngster he didn't know much about either code.
"I didnโt know much about the club or about their success or any of that," Manu said. "When I moved over hereโฆ they flew me in week in and week out [for SG Ball].
"I knew they were a good club then that had good family values and all of that. Once I got here, I knew they were a good club."
Growing up, legendary playmaker Dan Carter and Waikato superstar Mils Muliaina were his idols.
"Dan Carter is probably my favourite and then there are a couple of Chiefs boys - Mils Muliaina - I used to love watching him," Manu said. "At school I was [a playmaker] because we werenโt very good.
"Sometimes we didnโt even have enough numbers at the games. We were known as a bit of a rough school in our area, down in the Waikato area. There are heaps of good rugby schools and good private schools but we were pretty much getting smashed every week."
For now, Manu is happy at the Roosters.
"Iโm happy-as here for now at the Roosters," he said. "They gave me an opportunity and they changed my life and my familyโs life. Iโm real happy here and I love this club."
Set to come off-contract at the end of next season, the 23-year old sees his future in the tricolours, with his hometown of Tokoroa expecting him to bring home NRL silverware.
"Theyโre expecting it. They expect one every year now," Manu said with a laugh. "When you go back there now, everyone has a Roosters jersey.
"There are still a couple of Souths fans and a few other teams but itโs pretty much all Roosters. We have Zane who is from there too so everyone has supported us.
So he would love to play for the All Blacks. And?
And? …what? read the complete article TO, without moving your lips, and the what, will be answered
Did you get that TwitOne and your other Souths Clown buddies.
The entire town where Tetevano a mb d Manu come fr ok m support Sydney Roosters.
Like I said to you numbsculls previously, the Sydney Roosters are the real “pride of the League” promoting the code all over the World. Why just at the begining of this season they had massive Signs in the USA promoting League, with Sydney Roosters as the real World Champions.
Time to get your hand off it Twityone.
You should know Stephanie canโt read chookstir sheโs from Redfern.
Here are all the chooks supporters saying โpeople only leave for money and sacrifice their careerโ he would get a start with the all blacks as win 3x the trophyโs then he would staying in the NRL
Manu to Rugby , Mitchell to Souths.
Its on .
GoneWest “promoting the game all round the world?”
New Zealand is already an nrl country you clown.
Everyone in his town wears a roosters Jersey.
Wippy doo, all 50 of them .
That’s almost as many wearing a rooster jersey in Sydney
๐๐คฃ๐๐คฃ๐๐คฃ๐
A real Cluckers local junior . From Tokoroa NZ! ๐
You keep crapping on about all of the great fan base for your Cluckers WoodTools. Last week for the Cluckers/ Rabbits final at the SCG, it was hard to spot where the supporters were? They had to give tickets away for Free, to get some more people in there. The Stadium only has a capacity of 46,000.
Yet the Parramatta/ Brisbane final at BankWest was at capacity & sold out days before the game.
Canberra/ Rabbits game in Canberra, sold out last Tuesday.
Manly versus Cronulla, sold out .
Those are wonderful supporters that your Chicken Nuggets have. As long as they don’t have to actually turn up to support their team in a finals game!
And remind where Penrith finished again?
BackToFront..
I guess you didn’t actually read the comment. It was about your teams wonderful support base. Where were they last week? They did give tickets to that game away for Free!!!! Yet the turn out to the game was pathetic!!! It was embarrassing. So don’t bother having arguments about Cluckers members crowds versus other teams members / crowds, when Cluckers supporters can’t even bother to turn up for Finals , to support their team.
Were they just too busy having a late ?