The Beast still has eyes on ABs prize

MANU Vatuvei says he hasn’t given up on his dream of playing for the All Blacks as he enters the last year of his contract with the Warriors.

The big winger, who has been the club’s leading try scorer for the past eight seasons, is yet to start negotiating extending his time in Auckland.

While he’d like to remain with the Warriors, that will only happen if they make him a good offer. He says he’s prepared to look elsewhere, including switching codes to secure his future.

Vatuvei says he grew up loving rugby and it was always an ambition to one day pull on the famous black jersey.

‘‘I grew up watching and playing rugby,’’ Vatuvei told Sunday News. ‘‘My dream was always to play for the All Blacks. My idol was Jonah Lomu.

‘‘That’s still in my head, but I’m coming to the end of my career and I don’t think I’ll make the All Blacks. But anything’s possible and I never doubt myself.’’ Winning grin: Manu Vatuvei says he wants to emulate his idol Jonah Lomu by pulling on an All Blacks jersey.

Vatuvei will turn 29 next month and has reached a pivotal moment in his career. If he was to go down the rugby route this would be the last opportunity to do it if he was ever to become an All Black and following a similar path to Sonny Bill Williams would be the best option for him.

He could go to France for a year or two, earn lots of money, enjoy the lifestyle, while learning the intricacies of the game before coming back to New Zealand.

Vatuvei is a player who’s constantly put his body on the line and he feels playing rugby could be easier on his body than league.

‘‘I think it would be less punishing on my body,’’ he said.

‘‘Over here [in league] wingers do more than in rugby. In rugby you’ve got to get the ball, spread out and look for the space or have a kick and I’m not a good kicker, so I don’t think I’d do well in that part of it.’’

Vatuvei has got to the stage where he’s thinking about life after sport and that will play a part in what he decides to do next. He’d like to remain at the Warriors but the club could come under salary cap pressure, especially if they sign Jason Taumalolo for 2016. If that happens it could be players on decent money like Vatuvei and Sam Rapira, who’s also off contract at the end of the season, that get squeezed out.

‘‘Whatever is right for myself and my family I’ll take,’’ he said.

‘‘At the moment I want to stay, but if not I’ll have to look at my options.

‘‘It’s something I’ve got to think about but I also need to concentrate on playing really well, because if I don’t they (Warriors) wouldn’t want me anyway.

‘‘If I don’t get that contract, then it will be goodbye Manu.’’