Graham Lowe: Great winger, great Warrior

Manu Vatuvei celebrates scoring in his 200th NRL game. Photo / Getty Images

Opinion

I doubt Kiwi rugby league fans will see another winger with the size, speed and raw explosive power of Manu Vatuvei for a long time. And his durability is something special in this day and age.

He's had his ups and downs during his 200 game career so far and also carried the butter fingers tag for a while. But in his own way and with the skilful mentoring support of Kiwi legends like Ruben Wiki, he has propelled himself into the history of the game and become a truly remarkable player.

However, one of the things that impresses me most of all about Manu is his onfield temperament. Whether he has just scored the try of the year, or dropped the ball three times in a row, he shrugs it off and trots back into position. That's the sign of a true champion; he is not overtaken by the moment.

Only Stacey Jones and Simon Mannering have played more games for the Warriors than Manu Vatuvei and when I look back at the Warriors 20-year history, I believe the club has not had a better player than any of those three true Warriors.

But Manu is also a player that has seemed to have been the focus of blame when things haven't gone right at different times during his career. I don't know why some players attract this unfair criticism but he's not the first it's happened to at the Warriors.

Ali Lauitiiti, Lance Hohaia and Kevin Locke were also players who copped similar treatment at times during their careers at the club.

They were all match winners just as Manu is but also easy targets for unfair criticism when things went wrong. I think the reason this happens is because players like these four never giving up trying to get the ball across the line and are prepared to take a risk to get it done.

This makes them a little different because they lack the robotic gene many NRL coaches insert in their players.

But another great thing about Manu is that he looks to still have plenty of games left in him.

Actually, his style of play reminds me in many ways of Warriors assistant coach Tony Iro.
I signed Tony to a contract at Wigan only because his brother Kevin made it a condition to his signing at the famous club. But what a fantastic signing Tony turned out to be!

Playing on the right wing outside his younger brother Kevin, they simply terrorised the opposition outside backs with their size and speed.

I recall vividly the time legendary British winger Martin (Chariots) Offiah played his first game on the left wing for Widnes against us at Central Park. I've never seen a quicker player than Offiah, he was reputed to be Olympic sprinter standard. But in this game, part of our plan was to kick deep behind him and have the two giant Iro boys, who were no slouches themselves, chase him down.

The scary sight of those two monsters charging down on him forced Martin to try and run across the field and use his sheer pace to get around our defence. Against most teams he'd been able to do this.

Unfortunately for him, Kevin and Tony herded him towards the opposite side line and he ran out of room.

Once there, they grabbed hold of the flyer, picked him up and chucked him into the perimeter advertising. From that day forward, as good a player as the Widnes and Gt Britain winger was, he stayed well clear of the two boys from Glen Innes playing at right centre and right wing for Wigan.

And like Tony Iro, I can see a bit of a future in the back row for Manu Vatuvei.

His bullocking runs would frighten a police horse and there wouldn't be too many NRL players wanting to get in his way if he was let loose down the middle of the field.

I salute you Manu Vatuei, and congratulate you on a wonderful career and look forward to many more of your games in both the Warriors and also Kiwi jerseys.

Maybe at some time in the future with a number 11, 12 or 13 on your back.

But, whatever the jersey number that is on the back of this giant NRL legend, you can guarantee it will be full of heart.