Sydney Roosters head coach Trent Robinson has kept the possibility alive for club legend Joseph Manu to make a shock short-term return to the NRL side in 2025, ahead of the former Golden Boot winner’s permanent move back to the competition with the Chiefs in 2028. Manu departed the Roosters at the end of the 2024 NRL season to pursue international rugby opportunities, and is currently plying his trade with French Top 14 side Racing 92. His contract with the Hamilton-based Chiefs is set to kick off in 2028, following a one-season stint with PNG Rugby in 2027.
Making his NRL debut with the Roosters in 2016, the 30-year-old developed into one of the world’s top centres during his tenure at the club, winning two premiership titles and earning a place in the hearts of Roosters supporters, who have long held out hope he would one day return to the Sydney-based side.
Speaking to reporters, Robinson left the door ajar for a potential cameo stint with the Roosters during the 2025 NRL finals series, saying the fan favourite will always be welcome at the club. “So he’s not coming back? I know he’s going to PNG. Who knows what’s going to happen next year?” Robinson teased. “It’s been great for Joey, he’s got some adventures going to Japan and France and now PNG. He deserves everything he gets. Joey is one of our favourites and he’ll always be a Rooster, but his adventure has taken him elsewhere and he’s always welcome through these doors, that’s for sure.”
Robinson confirmed Manu remains an elite talent capable of playing at the highest level as either a fullback or right centre, and noted that Manu’s Racing 92 season wraps up on June 6, 2026, leaving a window where he would be available to join the Roosters for a late-season run if a deal can be struck. A short-term stint would also allow Manu to reacclimate to NRL rules and physicality ahead of his permanent move to the Chiefs. “I haven’t spoken to Joey about that,” Robinson added. “He likes his European holidays now that he’s got some culture in him, so we don’t know what he’s going to do after that Top 14 season. We’ll see.”
In other Roosters team news, superstar fullback James Tedesco is on track to make his return to the starting lineup for this Saturday’s clash against the Dolphins, after two recent missed matches where he was named to play but ruled out before kickoff due to a lingering lower-leg injury. Tedesco picked up the unusual injury during the club’s Round 22 victory over the Cowboys, and Robinson says the playmaker will take the field as long as he passes his final training session Friday. “We’re not going to put someone out there that’s not ready to play and play the way that he does. He’s ready to get back and going as long as he ticks off today,” Robinson said. “It’s probably just a non-traditional injury. That would be the simplest way (to explain it). It was a membrane injury rather than a muscle injury, which is getting technical here, but that’s why it was just slightly different about the rehab and how long it was going to take.”
The Roosters are gearing up for the crucial clash looking to bounce back from an unexpected upset loss to the Wests Tigers. Robinson said an internal review held earlier in the week left him confident the squad is still on the right track heading into the final stretch of the regular season. Lock forward Victor Radley will miss Saturday’s match after sustaining a concussion, but Robinson said the forward could return for the final round of the regular season if he successfully completes the league’s mandatory concussion protocols. “I’m not sure where that sort of came from that he would miss next week as well but it’s progressions as normal like any other one and he’s just got to make sure he keeps ticking off that,” Robinson said. “I can’t say on next week until we get past the next couple of progressions.”