‘A wild, wild moment’: Joseph Manu delivered his own baby before starring in historic Las Vegas extravaganza

Joseph Manu has long been the man the Roosters call on to perform in the big moments, but it turns out his achievements on the field pale in comparison to what he did at his home earlier this year when he helped deliver his wife’s baby.

The former Golden Boot winner nearly missed the Las Vegas extravaganza when he stayed at home for the birth of his child, but we now know just how “wild” the experience was after teammate Brandon Smith revealed on the Matty Johns Show the role Manu played in the middle of the night as they waited for paramedics to arrive.

“Brandon likes to talk,” Manu laughed, having scored the opening try in Las Vegas just days after he arrived.

“That was a wild, wild moment.

“Everything happened pretty fast. I didn’t really think too much of it at the time, but it was a special moment for me and my wife to deliver our baby.

“I didn’t have much time to think because I was half asleep. She just woke me up so I had to do it because there was no other choice. It was at the side of my bed right next to where we were sleeping.

“We had a few different plans, but it happened so fast. As soon as I woke up I was pretty much straight on. Luckily, everything worked out well, the baby was healthy and the paramedics rocked up pretty much right after.

“It was all the moment, but it was crazy after I told my family about it.”

It’s been a busy year for Manu, who confirmed he’d the NRL to join Japanese rugby, with the strike centre welcoming the arrival of another fresh face last week when former Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase started training with the club.

Nawaqanitawase will spend the next few months getting used to rugby league with hopes he could be ready to start in the outside backs next season, and he’s already looking like a Rooster after speeding down Driver Ave on a scooter like the rest of his teammates.

The speedster trained in the wet on Monday, and while he’s willing to learn as much as possible, Manu hasn’t asked too many rugby questions yet with the focus on how Nawaqanitawase went at the Olympics with the sevens team.

“I’ve only known him for the last couple of days but he seems like a nice guy and he’s a good athlete, so I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops here in rugby league and at the Roosters,” Manu said.

“I haven’t really spoken too much about it with him. I talked to him about the Olympics and his experiences there, so it was good to get some stories.

“I’m just focused on what we’re doing here at the moment. I think in the off-season I’ll pick up what I need there, but I’m just locking in now.”