37 Facts About Manu Vatuvei

Manu Vatuvei previously played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL and for the Salford Red Devils in the Super League.

Manu Vatuvei became the Warriors' top try scorer, and the first player in NRL history to score at least 10 tries in 10 consecutive seasons.

Manu Vatuvei grew up in the same Otara neighbourhood as Ruben Wiki and attended Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate.

Manu Vatuvei's cousin is Tongan-Japanese rugby union player Ruatangi Vatuvei.

Manu Vatuvei played for the Otara Scorpions and Otahuhu Leopards in Auckland Rugby League competitions before playing for the Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards in the Bartercard Cup.

Manu Vatuvei played in 5 matches in his debut year.

Manu Vatuvei finished the year with him playing in 12 matches and scoring 9 tries for the Warriors.

Manu Vatuvei played 5 matches and scored 3 tries in the series.

Manu Vatuvei finished the 2006 NRL season with 10 tries from 18 matches.

Manu Vatuvei scored one of the Warriors three tries and was denied another by a forward pass ruling.

Manu Vatuvei was named in the New Zealand squad for the 2008 World Cup.

Manu Vatuvei went on to star in the tournament, breaking New Zealand's World Cup record for most tries in a match with four against England.

Manu Vatuvei went on to play in the first New Zealand team to win the World Cup, defeating Australia in the final.

Manu Vatuvei played in 5 matches and scored 4 tries in the tournament.

Manu Vatuvei was named International Winger of the year in 2008.

The Warriors failed to make the finals, but Manu Vatuvei finished the season as the club's top try-scorer with 13 tries in 19 matches in the 2009 NRL season.

On 24 August, Manu Vatuvei announced that he had extended his Warriors contract until the end of the 2013 season.

Manu Vatuvei was the Warriors highest tryscorer for the 4th year in a row with 20 tries in 19 matches.

Manu Vatuvei was the Warriors highest tryscorer for the 5th year in a row with 12 tries in 19 matches.

Manu Vatuvei missed the 2011 Four Nations series after failing medical tests.

On 8 May 2013, Manu Vatuvei extended his contract with the Warriors to the end of the 2015 season.

Manu Vatuvei was the Warriors highest tryscorer for the 7th year in a row with 16 tries in 19 matches.

Manu Vatuvei was selected for the New Zealand World Cup squad.

Manu Vatuvei played in 4 matches and scored 4 tries in the series.

Manu Vatuvei finished off the Warriors 2014 NRL season as the Warriors highest tryscorer for the year with 17 tries in 23 matches.

On 7 October 2014, Manu Vatuvei was selected in the New Zealand Kiwis' final 24-man squad for the 2014 Four Nations series.

In Round 14 against the Sydney Roosters, Manu Vatuvei became the first player in NRL history to score at least 10 tries in 10 consecutive seasons.

Manu Vatuvei suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in round 22,.

In 2016, Manu Vatuvei scored his 150th first grade try, the 11th player to do so and the first New Zealander.

Manu Vatuvei announced his well rumoured retirement on social media on 15 July 2019; explaining the delay in his decision was due to being unable to accept that his time was up.

Manu Vatuvei made his boxing debut in the corporate division to raise money for The Prostate Cancer Foundation of NZ on 15 December 2012.

In November 2018, it was announced that Manu Vatuvei would make his pro boxing debut against Brown Buttabean David Letele.

Manu Vatuvei won the bout by Knockout in the first round.

On 2 May 2021, Manu Vatuvei announced through his social media that he was the sportsman in the case, and that he had been charged with possessing methamphetamine for supply and importing the Class A drug in December 2019.

On 6 October 2021, Manu Vatuvei pleaded guilty to importing methamphetamine into New Zealand and in March 2022 he was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison.

Manu Vatuvei's brother was sentenced on the same charges, and received seven years and two months in prison.

Manu Vatuvei married his wife in 2009, and together they have five daughters.