Joey Manu has revealed how close he came to ditching the season-opening double-header in Las Vegas to remain at home with his wife and newborn daughter.
The Roosters star boarded flight UA842 before lunch on Tuesday bound for Los Angeles to unite with his teammates.
Manu was given permission to stay behind for the arrival of his first child, and said it was a real struggle packing his bags.
“I’m really happy and sad at the same time to be leaving them,” Manu told Nine News. “I wanted to make sure my wife and baby were in good spirits and they were happy with [me leaving]. I’m looking forward to getting over there and getting back to business.”
As for his little bundle of joy, Manu said: “She’s lovely. She’s cute as. I didn’t want to leave this morning, to be honest. I was struggling to leave. It will be all worth it.
“There were a few days there I didn’t think I’d actually go. Even after [the birth], I was like, ‘I’m not too sure’. But talking to ‘Robbo’ [Roosters coach Trent Robinson], and some people in my family, and my wife, it worked out well – here I am on the plane getting ready.”
Manu will only have a few field sessions to get his body acclimatised to the US conditions before lining up against the Brisbane Broncos and new left centre Selwyn Cobbo.
A neck injury to new recruit and towering winger Dominic Young has ruled him out of the first game, but also spared Robinson from having to choose between him, Manu, Joseph Suaalii, Billy Smith and Daniel Tupou for the two centre and wing spots.
Robinson confirmed after the club’s main trial against Manly that Manu would pursue rugby at the end of the season, and although a deal was yet to be struck, said: “He has been here since he was a kid. [But] he wants to go and experience another country. He grew up playing union, so he wants to do that.”
Manu is expected to leave the Roosters for good to take up a lucrative rugby contract in France or Japan next year.
On Tuesday, he was sheepish about his next move, but was hopeful of getting something sorted “so I can focus on the rest of the year”.
“I haven’t really sorted things yet; once I do, I’ll know where my head is at,” Manu said.
New recruit and three-time Penrith premiership winner Spencer Leniu will debut for the Roosters in Las Vegas against a Brisbane side that features Cobbo in the centres, Corey Jensen up front, Brendan Piakura taking over from Kurt Capewell in the back row, and Deine Mariner edging out Corey Oates for a wing spot.
Tom Trbojevic returns for Manly in his first game back since Origin II last year when he ruptured his pec, while Cody Walker has overcome a calf injury and starts in the halves for South Sydney.
