Sika Manu

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Sika Manu
Manu playing for the Kiwis
Personal information
Full name Sikalamu Viliami Manu
Born (1987-01-22) 22 January 1987
Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Height 181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 115 kg (18 st 2 lb)
Playing information
Position Second-row, Prop
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2007–2012 Melbourne Storm 88 17 0 0 68
2013– Penrith Panthers 20 5 0 0 20
Total 108 22 0 0 88
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2008–2011 New Zealand 13 4 0 0 16
2013 Tonga 3 2 0 0 8
As of 18 July 2011
Source:

Sika Manu (born 22 January 1987 in Wellington, New Zealand) is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL. He previously played for the Melbourne Storm (with whom he won the 2012 NRL Premiership). He was also a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team who beat Australia in the 2008 World Cup Final. Manu's position of choice is at prop but he can also play in the second-row. On June 5, 2012 it was revealed that Manu had signed a three-year deal with the Penrith Panthers from the 2013 season.

Background

Manu is of full Tongan descent and as a result is eligible both for New Zealand and Tonga. His older brother Filipe was also contracted to the Storm.[1] He is cousin to current Super 15 Rugby union player from the Highlanders; Nasi Manu. He is also cousin to up and coming Rugby superstar David Manu, located in the Eastern Suburbs.Manu was educated at Upper Hutt College, where he played for the schools' First XV rugby team. He played for the Randwick Kingfishers, Petone Panthers and the Upper Hutt Tigers in the Wellington Rugby League.[1] Manu was a Junior Kiwi international and was part of the 2004 side who twice defeated the England Under 18s Academy. Following this series, Manu signed a NRL contract with the Melbourne Storm.[2]

Playing career

Manu made his first National Rugby League (NRL) for the Melbourne Storm in 2007. He has since played over 50 games for the club. He played in the 2008 NRL Grand Final defeat to Manly.[3] Manu made his New Zealand Kiwis debut in 2008. He was named in the Tongan and New Zealand training squads for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[4][5] In October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man Kiwi squad and was part of the team that went on to win the tournament.[6]

Manu suffered a leg injury in the Storm's 2009 Round 21 clash with the St George Illawarra Dragons, thus ending his season. He ultimately missed the Grand Final win.
Sika Manu
For the 2010 Anzac Test, Manu was selected to play for New Zealand from the interchange bench in their loss against Australia. On June 5, 2012, Penrith Panthers General Manager Phil Gould announced that Manu had signed a three-year deal with the Panthers, commencing from the start of the 2013 National Rugby League season. On September 30, 2012, he finally played in a premiership, when Storm beat the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 14-4 in the 2012 NRL Grand Final.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Deane, Steve (30 October 2010). "League: Time for Manu to prove himself". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 11 November 2011. 
  2. ↑ Team of the Century - Week 6 Wellington Rugby League
  3. ↑ "Grand final: As it happened". Fox Sports. 2008-10-05. Retrieved 2008-10-05. 
  4. ↑ "Tug-of-war over Mason". Sky Sports. 2008-08-05. Retrieved 2008-08-06. 
  5. ↑ "Kiwis select Sonny Bill". Sky Sports. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-08. 
  6. ↑ "Kiwis to wait on Webb and Matai". BBC. 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-10-07. 

External links

Penrith Panthers – current squad
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