Tokoroa goes to town over trophy plan
Sunday’s NRL win wasn’t just a win for the Sydney Roosters, it was also a win for the league-loving Waikato town that raised Joseph Manu.
Touring the trophy through his hometown of Tokoroa is the last thing Manu needs to tick off on his checklist of goals.
The 22-year-old centre, who played a starring role for the Roosters in the grand final against the Melbourne Storm, said his success felt like his ‘‘whole town won’’.
He reckons parading the trophy around his old stomping ground is the best way to pay tribute to those who have always backed him.
‘‘I don’t know if I’m even allowed,’’ Manu said, laughing. ‘‘But if I can bring it back it will be pretty special.’’
The town, where Manu’s family still lives, is ready for it if the trophy does make its way
‘‘We’re a crazy league town.’’
there. A homeboy at heart, Manu hasn’t forgotten the humble charms of South Waikato.
‘‘You can rock up to almost anyone’s house and they’ll feed you without a second thought,’’ said Manu, who moved to Sydney as a teenager. ‘‘Everyone is a family there, everybody will look after everyone.’’
Last year, Manu was dropped by the Roosters prompting him to list four goals. They were to establish himself as the Roosters’ firstchoice centre, win an NRL ring, be happy and take the Provan-Summons trophy on tour through his hometown.
Pacific Sharks Rugby League Club chairwoman Marama Tahapehi said locals were ecstatic that Manu wanted to pay tribute to the town.
‘‘We’re a crazy league town,’’ she said. ‘‘We’re in the media for lots of not nice reasons. But we’re quite a resilient town, like any small community, really.’’
The biggest obstacle to bringing the trophy to town will be finding space for the number of people clamouring to see the prize. ‘‘It will be epic and huge.’’
Pacific Sharks Rugby League Club chairwoman Marama Tahapehi