Former NRL stars conflict in Japanese membership rugby | USAEMALL.com

Former NRL stars Joey Manu and Marika Koroibete are set to square off in Japanese club rugby, with the stakes high for the Wallabies winger.

Ex-Sydney Roosters ace Manu will start on the right wing for Verblitz, placing him in direct competition with former Melbourne Storm flyer Koroibete, who is on Saitama Wild Knights’ left flank.

Kiwi league international Manu has has scored nine tries in his maiden rugby union season, including one when Verblitz lost to the Wild Knights earlier in the year.

The clash is an opportunity to gauge Manu’s rugby union progress, but also for Koroibete to impress Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

Koroibete, 32, has appeared just three times this Japan season after a delayed start due to a hand injury, with his team – coached by former World Cup-winning All Blacks coach Steve Hansen – in 10th place and in danger of relegation.

The return from retirement of former Wallabies flanker Michael Hooper has helped, although the ex-Test skipper is going to have his hands full contesting the breakdown against Aussie-schooled Ben Gunter.

Hooper concedes 22kg in size to the Brisbane Boys’ College product, whose power and accuracy over the ball has seen the Wild Knights’ backrower make more turnovers from that position than any other player in the league.

Israel Folau is also in action, finally gaining the chance to let his rugby do the talking in his first game since January 11 for bottom placed-Urayasu D-Rocks against Yokohama Eagles.

While Folau’s chances of an on-field reconciliation with Rugby Australia appear to have been dashed, after his hopes of an appearance against the Lions were shot down by chief executive Phil Waugh, the code-hopper’s immediate priority is to help his club stave off relegation.

Plagued by injury, the 36-year-old has made just 12 appearances in the past three seasons, after having blasted onto the Japanese scene with 10 tries in his first year.

Samu Kerevi is also in Folau’s team and is another looking for a strong game to stay in the Wallabies’ selection mix.