Former Sydney Roosters premiership winner and New Zealand Kiwis star Joseph Manu arrived in Port Moresby this afternoon at the Jacksons International Airport, sparking fresh speculation over his future with the incoming PNG Chiefs NRL franchise.
The 30-year-old arrived with his family but did not speak to waiting media at Jacksons International Airport. He was escorted from the terminal shortly after landing.
Manu is widely regarded as one of rugby league's premier outside backs. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, he made his NRL debut for the Sydney Roosters in 2016 and played a key role in the club's back-to-back premiership victories in 2018 and 2019.
Following the 2024 NRL season, Manu switched to rugby union, initially playing in Japan before signing with French Top 14 club Racing 92.
His visit to Papua New Guinea comes amid ongoing reports linking him with the PNG Chiefs, who are preparing to enter the NRL as the competition's newest franchise in 2028.
Earlier this year, Australian media outlet Code Sports reported that Manu was open to returning to rugby league once his contract in France expires at the end of 2027. The report quoted his father, Nooroa Manu, as saying Papua New Guinea was "an option" as the star considered the next stage of his career.
"Yes, PNG is an option," Nooroa Manu told Code Sports.
"We are looking at options at the moment... Joey is signed for another year, so he is there for this year and next year. But he is deciding what to do next."
The report said Manu was weighing up whether to continue in rugby union or return to the NRL, with the PNG Chiefs emerging as a potential destination for the club's inaugural season.
Signing Manu would represent a major statement for the PNG franchise as it builds its playing roster ahead of its historic entry into the NRL.
The club has already begun laying the foundations for recruitment, with several high-profile players linked to the expansion side in recent months.
Neither Manu nor the PNG Chiefs have publicly confirmed any negotiations or agreement regarding a possible contract.
Manu's visit to Port Moresby is expected to attract significant attention from rugby league fans, with many eager to see whether one of the game's biggest names could become the face of Papua New Guinea's first NRL club.
