Former Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers enforcer Sika Manu has announced he’ll call time on his rugby league career at the end of the 2019 English Super League season.
The 32-year-old has spent the past four seasons with Hull FC after 150 NRL appearances for the Storm and Panthers.
“It was an extremely hard decision to make because I have had an enjoyable career, especially my time here at Hull, but I feel that the time is right to hang up the boots,” Manu, who played in two NRL grand finals with the Storm, said.
“When you give your all on the field every week, giving 110%, it certainly takes its toll on your body and I have been feeling the effects of it on the training field this season.
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“I have to say that coming to play for Hull FC has been a great decision because it’s a huge club with a lot of culture and a lot of history, so it’s nice that I am able to end my career here.
“… It’s been an amazing journey with plenty of highs and lows along the way.”
Manu retires having won an NRL premiership with the Storm, a Challenge Cup with Hull FC and the Rugby League World Cup with New Zealand.
He made his NRL debut for Melbourne as a 20-year-old in 2007, managing 89 appearances in six seasons before moving to the Panthers in 2013.
Manu added a further 62 first-grade games in three years with the Mountain Men before heading to England in 2016.
The powerful back-rower also represented both New Zealand and Tonga at Test level.
