His YouTube channel has been a massive hit this season, but Joseph Manu is hoping to provide Roosters fans with some highlights on the field before he heads over to Japanese rugby at the end of the year.

The former Golden Boot winner will join Toyota Verblitz in a massive loss for rugby league, but fans are hopeful he will be back in the NRL sooner rather than later, with the Roosters keen for him to return down the track.

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Manu’s time in the game could be over this weekend if the Roosters lose to Manly, but the strike centre is trying not to think about that as they look to keep their season alive and book a trip to Melbourne for next week’s preliminary final.

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Joseph Manu isn’t ready for his NRL career to end this weekend. Picture: David Becker
Joseph Manu isn’t ready for his NRL career to end this weekend. Picture: David BeckerSource: News Corp Australia

“It’s do-or-die now, so I’m excited about that knowing that if we lose then that’s it,” the two-time premiership winner said.

“But that’s not where my mindset is at. It’s on us winning and getting the job done.

“It’s starting to hit me (that my time is almost up) but it won’t properly hit me until I’ve actually left.

“We’re in the midst of finals, so I can’t really think about that.”

Manu is one of several stars set to leave the Roosters at the end of the season, with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Luke Keary and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves also moving on, which is why there’s so much focus on them winning the title this year.

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Injuries have hit them hard, with Manu missing several games with a broken hand that he says took a few weeks to fully get over.

He’s “100 per cent” now and fans are begging to see him return to the form where he regularly put up video game numbers after he was held to just 93m and three tackle breaks by Penrith.

Manu has heard commentators calling for him to get more involved in attack, but he says that’s unfair.

Manu was out for a month with a broken hand earlier this year. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
Manu was out for a month with a broken hand earlier this year. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

“I’m a centre, so I’m just doing my role, and sometimes the game plan isn’t to come to my side of the field,” he explained.

“Then there are games like last week where we’re just coming out of our end and defending most of the time, so it’s hard when games go like that to get so involved.

“I just try to get myself involved and always be what I want to do.”

While his time in rugby league is coming to a close for now, his social media presence is only growing. Manu is keen to make more content on his YouTube channel that has more than 16,000 subscribers.

Manu wants to give fans an insight into what he and his teammates do on away trips, with food featuring prominently in his videos, including a kebab review after an Eels game that has had 144,000 views.

He is looking to build his YouTube channel when he moves to Japan
He is looking to build his YouTube channel when he moves to JapanSource: Supplied

“It’s just stuff I enjoy off the field. I’m trying to capture moments with the boys before I go over to Japan where I’ll hopefully keep doing it,” he said.

“I had a camera and thought I may as well start doing something. I love my food and a lot of people like food.

“Because I play footy I get to show people the background of what we get up to on away trips. Not many people do this, so I don’t really follow anyone. It’s all natural and I just do my own thing.

“A lot of fans want to know what players are up to and what their interests are. It’s hard for some players to do it, but I just felt that I wanted to share what I enjoy.

“You get to see a bit of it in the media, but this is different because I’m editing it myself, so I get to put out what people want to see.

“Some of the boys love it when I get the camera out, but others are shy and try to hide.”

Manu’s favourite place to eat in Sydney is Bistecca, but he’s ready to embrace a totally different cuisine over in Japan where he’s happy to “grind away” with filming and editing.

“I love my sushi, but I’ve heard they do it a bit differently over there,” he said.

“I’ve been on Instagram watching a lot of reels of people going to different spots, so I want to try all the new stuff.”