MANU ADDS TO INCREASING PHYSICAL FORCE

[The InnFORCEr]

EMIRATES WESTERN FORCE MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday, 5 September 2013

The Emirates Western Force’s focus on assembling an increasingly physical forward pack for the 2014 Super Rugby season has continued with the re-signing of powerful prop Salesi Manu.

Manu will add to a Western Australian forward pack already featuring increased size and physicality in 2014, with the recruitment of Bulls lock Wilhelm Steenkamp and Western Province prop Chris Heiberg. The team has also retained Matt Hodgson, Hugh McMeniman, Ben McCalman, Heath Tessmann, Tetera Faulkner and Sam Wykes, who all re-signed with the Force this season.

Head Coach Michael Foley says he’s pleased to have the young front-rower continuing his development with the Emirates Western Force.

“Salesi is part of a group of players who have worked extremely hard over the last seven weeks during our off-season development phase,” he said.

“He has shown he has the ability to achieve at this level and beyond, and is determined to challenge the props currently ahead of him.”

Manu, 22, graduates to a full contract after two seasons as a member of the Force’s Extended Playing Squad.

The former Australian Schoolboys and Under 20’s representative made his Super Rugby debut for the Force last year against the Stormers in Perth. He played eight matches in his debut season, including holding down the starting tighthead role against Test representatives Ben Alexander (Brumbies), Tony Woodcock (Blues) and Ben Franks (Crusaders) in the final three matches of the season.

“I’ve loved being a part of the Force for the past two years,” Manu said. “I’ve seen a massive improvement in my rugby knowledge and physical development and I’m looking forward to that continuing.

“I’ve been really lucky with the quality of coaches I’ve had working with me over the past two years. They’ve taught me a lot about set piece as well as my general play.

“I’ve been very grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given to play Super Rugby over the past two years. At the moment, having recently had my ankle done, I just want to concentrate on the pre-season, attack that and everything else will take care of itself.”

Profile
Name: Salesi Manu
Born: 26/09/1990, Sydney
Position: Prop
Height: 185cm
Weight: 122kg
Super Rugby caps: 9
Super Rugby points: 0
Super Rugby debut: 2012 v Stormers, Perth
Representative Rugby: 2012-2013 Emirates Western Force, 2012 North Harbour (ITM Cup), 2011 Australian Under 20, 2008 Australian Schoolboys

[valzc]

Very excited - Very happy!!!!

[PeterM]

That is good news really do like him

[Stone Cold]

Awesome. The kid is set to be a behemoth.

[Tazzmania]

Great news, great to see the kid upgraded to a full contract.

Seems to be a hard grafter with a good attitude.

Well deserved.

[RugbyRef]

Good for Paly too I assume.
Posted via Mobile Device

[westies man]

After the booing debacle at semifinal time down at Success I'm hearing Paly are going to be blacklisted by Force players

[SirRichie]

You sure it was just Paly supporters booing!

That debacle was caused by RugbyWA, and the jeering came from all sections except Wests supporters.

[westies man]

out of respect purely because of your avator will I refrain from the obvious

[SinBin]

Great to see us holding on to talent.

[zimeric]

keep local club comments in the local club comments section please, its bad enough having to read all the wingeing there without it filtering over into this area of the site thanks...

great news to have Salesi re-sign!!

[Secret Spy]

Guys, Again for the 100th time, we're not concerned about EWF players playing, as long as they go through the right channels. Salesi Manu and Will Tupou played thier qualifying amount of games for Pally as did Jayden Haywood for Wests.
Pally had there EWF chances, but both Manu and Tupou had season ending injuiries, so that was Pally's lot. Haywood made it to the semi's and nobody complained. It was the paratroopers that stuffed it all up. Please stop contorting the rules to suit your situation.

[GIGS20]

Pretty touchy spy. Us western force fans get savaged any time we try to make a comment on the clubland side of the fence but when a thread praising a good young prop for re-signing is hijacked with yet another discussion about force players in the final you get precious?

Anyway back to topic, Salesi is a great pick up, well deserving of a full contract.

[Secet Spy]

Gigs, Hats off to Salesi, But if you guy's can only see the grass on the WF side of the fence then you'll never see local talent run on to NIB Stadium.

[AndyS]

As Gigs says, it's not the only grass we can see but we've been told to stay well off the rest...