Joey Manu goes public with huge revelation about wife and daughter amid NRL swansong

Joey Manu has spoken for the first time about how he had to deliver his daughter at home earlier this year, and how she's spurring him to try and leave the NRL with a Sydney Roosters premiership. But fans hoping he'll be back in the NRL sooner rather than later will be sorely disappointed.

Manu is departing the Roosters at the end of the season to take up a deal in Japanese rugby, and he recently revealed he wants to give the code-switch more than 12 months. Some had suggested he could be back in the NRL as early as next year, but it appears as though he has desires to represent the All Blacks at the 2027 World Cup.

Which is why he's trying to end his Roosters career on the best note possible. And he's got an extra special fan in his new baby daughter spurring him on.

On Tuesday, Manu revealed for the first time about delivering his daughter at home when he and wife Tyrelle couldn't get to hospital in time. "I called the ambulance and lucky there was a lady that told me what to do," Manu told NRL.com. "She said to grab towels and look to see if the baby's coming.

"I said yes, I can see her coming out and they said to tell her to push and get ready to catch her. She pretty much just slipped out. My wife was really good. She was in a lot of pain but after the birth the best moment it was just us two and the lady on the phone. It was a pretty cool moment once she came out."

The Kiwi international is trying to stay in the moment rather than thinking about leaving the NRL. "I'll look back on the year when it's done," he said. "I'm just focusing on what we're trying to do here. You think about it coming to an end a little bit but it's gone so fast. I've just switched back to being in the moment and want to do what's best for the team."

Joey Manu delivers bad news to Sydney Roosters fans

Speaking in June, Manu dashed the hopes of Roosters fan who thought his stint in rugby might only last a few months. Some had suggested the centre could return to the Roosters next June because the final for the Japanese Rugby One competition is played in late May.

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But the 27-year-old put that theory to bed, saying he wants to give his rugby union career a bit longer than six months. "I highly, highly doubt it," he said when asked if he could be back at the Roosters in 2025.

"Maybe somewhere longer (down the road). I probably need a little bit more than six months over there. Going to Japan is a good experience for myself and my family. Just enjoying something different. Six months over there is just learning the game. That's the next step that I want to take. I really want to do my best in rugby union. I feel like I'll need a bit longer than six months. But we'll see how it goes."

In order to be picked for the All Blacks he'd have to be playing in the Super Rugby competition in Australia and NZ. His stint in Japanese rugby shapes as a great opportunity to impress potential Super Rugby suitors.