Arguably one of the best cross-code players Sonny Bill Williams has endorsed Joey Manu’s bid for a short-term rugby union switch and believes it can make him an even better NRL player.
Speaking with The Sydney Morning Herald, Williams believes Manu’s status in rugby league means he deserves to maximise his earning potential and the Rooters and the NRL need to explore ways to keep him in the game.
“When you’re an elite player like Joey is, that’s what you can do,” Williams told The Sydney Morning Herald of his attempts to spend the early part of the 2025 season to chase a big money offer in Japan before returning to the Roosters.
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“As long as it’s done respectfully, he deserves a chance to see what’s there for himself.
“I’m proud of him for stepping out there and doing his thing.
“When you have that talent, that talent deserves to be seen.”
Williams is the most decorated cross-code star having won two premierships with the Bulldogs (2004) and Roosters (2013) to go with two World Cups with the All Blacks in 2011 and 2015.
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Williams famously left the Bulldogs to sign with Toulon in European rugby in 2008, but he also had a seven game stint with the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan in 2012.
He believes the Japanese competition’s strict training regimes and attention to detail will make Manu and even more dangerous rugby league player when he returns.
“The beauty of Japanese rugby, and it shocked me, is how fast the game is,” Williams said.
“It’s a fast tempo and great skills. It’s like the Samurai movies where they train from dusk until dawn.
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“These lads are at training two hours early working on their skills and finer details of the game to make up for the smaller size and different physicality.
“I think it’ll be good for Joey, and he’ll come back with a really enhanced skill level – that’s what I found from my time [in Japan].
It’ll be such a good experience for him, and stepping out of his comfort zone, that should be applauded.”
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