Manu’s Barbarian time
BEFORE this week, Salesi Manu had played about 80 minutes all year.
Now he is gearing up to play on the big stage at Allianz Stadium in Sydney today, lining up for the Barbarians against a Wallabies outfit including Israel Folau and Stephen Moore.
Manu’s career hit a major stumbling block last November when he ruptured a patellar tendon in his knee while in Japan at Top League side the Honda Heat. The prop eventually moved to the Gold Coast, where wife Brooklyn has family, and joined Queensland Premier Rugby club Bond University.
Manu didn’t play a game all season but astounded Bond staff with his work ethic in rehabilitation.
The 27-year-old managed to pick up a National Rugby Championship opportunity with Brisbane City and has performed well in limited opportunities off the bench. And then, out of nowhere, his manager called to tell him to get to a Barbarians camp on the Gold Coast last Sunday.
“It’s a bit of a surreal experience at the moment,” Manu told the Bulletin.
“I am over the moon and happy just to be playing footy again. To have this game and to be selected here is obviously something special.”
Manu played 80 minutes straight for the Barbarians midweek in Lismore against the Classic Wallabies, a side headlined by retired stars such as Drew Mitchell and Lote Tuqiri. The 27-year-old hailed it an enjoyable but painful experience as he continues to build up match fitness.
On his chances of a 2018 Super Rugby deal with the Queensland Reds, Manu said: “Still negotiating but nothing really set in stone at the moment so I am still a free agent.”
A strong display off the bench today could help hurry that process up.
“The nerves won’t creep in until towards kick-off time and then walking out onto the stadium but right now I am just trying to stay relaxed and kind of take my head off the game and just enjoy the experience,” he said.
Manu said he had focused his stint at City on getting “back to basics” with areas including set piece.
He has previously played for the Western Force as well as for Italian and Japanese clubs.