‘Hull are lucky to have Manu in side’

WHEN Sika Manu was ruled out for the season by Hull FC due to a knee injury, it was expected that he would miss Tonga’s Test match with Australia.

It subsequently raised a few eyebrows when he was named in the squad despite the problem and then even managed to take the field for the 34-18 loss to the Aussies in New Zealand.

But it was an opportunity the 31-year-old wasn’t going to miss and it’s understood he hasn’t made his injury any worse, an issue which will be sorted out this off-season.

He’d led Tonga to the semis of the World Cup but playing against the world’s best was something he clearly wanted to do before retiring.

Now he’s hung up his international boots there are two things to take from this. It’s good for Hull that he is now concentrating on club matters after his 2018 season was essentially hindered because of his extensive involvement in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup with Tonga.

Manu’s body clearly didn’t recover quickly enough from that World Cup. FC made the decision to allow him to rest and failed to put enough work into him ahead of the campaign and that made the veteran more susceptible to injuries.

Manu is an older 31 than most. He’s had a longer career playing top quality games and he’s had more off-season international matches than the average player, with the back rower having won the World Cup with New Zealand ten years ago and the Four Nations in 2010 as well as featuring in other internationals.

Now the focus can be on Manu’s efforts with Hull and making sure he ends his career with the club in the right manner. He’s contracted until the end of 2019 and whether he stays beyond that will depend on how next season pans out.

The other aspect of Manu’s decision to retire from international rugby league has come in the form of a reminder. The comments from Tonga coach Kristian Woolf on Manu as part of the statement on his decision to retire are glowing.

It can be easy amidst an eleven-game losing streak to forget what Hull have in Manu. They have a man who has the respect of the rugby league world. He is revered on and off the field for efforts which include helping Tonga recover from the impact of Cyclone Gita this year.

A better pre-season will ensure Manu is closer to the best version of himself next year in what could be his final season at the club.

He’ll leave an imprint on the players at the club long after he leaves the Black and Whites so everyone should be thankful he’s still around for 2019.