NRL: Happy Manu to shape up

Manu Vatuvei will take some stopping after two injury-shortened seasons. Photo / Getty Images

Manu Vatuvei has returned to Warriors pre-season training overweight, happily married - and highly motivated.

The 23-year-old is entering his seventh season with the club but had a disruptive 2009 with injury and off-season cartilage surgery on his right knee.

However, married bliss with new wife Jennifer and three-year-old daughter Makayla means that he has recently found himself grazing in a good paddock but is enthusiastic to get rid of the excess in the next month.

"I've gained a few pounds on my break, due to too many family dinners eating chop suey and taro, so it's a case of getting back into shape," he says.

"The training sessions are tough, especially for those of us who came back from summer a bit overweight. Last year, I put on 7kg and this year, it's a similar feeling, so it's hard burning off the fat. Us Islanders struggle to stay in shape with the home cooking.

"My wife cooks me a good feed but even when I'm full, I keep going," he laughs. "I love her stir fries. Chicken or beef. And her scalloped potatoes."

Aside from hoeing in at the dining table, the 112kg wing (or thereabouts) has been repairing and preparing himself to join a Warriors backline bolstered by the return of centre Brent Tate.

Tate starred for the side in 2008 but busted his anterior cruciate ligament after just three rounds last year.

"It's Brent's second reconstruction on his knees so it must be pretty tough, trying to get confidence back in his legs," said Vatuvei.

"However, he's one of these players who is straight up, and won't turn his back on the team. When things go wrong, he's a guy who brings the boys back into it. It's good for players to learn from his experience."

Vatuvei's also hoping for a return to the spark he's created in the past out wide with centre Jerome Ropati.

The pair played together just 13 times last season due in part to Vatuvei's patchy injury record and Ropati's drop in form.

"Jerome and I are trying to get our combination together on the left, trying to get into game mode. I must be due to stay on the field a while this year - some guys go for a year without getting injured so this year, I'm due to last for a change. I'm my own worst enemy with injuries."

Vatuvei missed six games for the Warriors last year and laboured a bit with knee and hamstring complaints - but still scored 13 tries. He was out for 12 games in 2008.

The new Warriors season coincides with a new skipper as Simon Mannering looks to make his mark with Steve Price returning to the rank and file of the team in the last year of his current contract.

"I don't see any change in Simon in how he is in the team," says Vatuvei. "He's the same person in a bigger role but there's trust in him.

"All the boys know Simon is not a big talker but he shows us his leadership on the park more than anything. Steve's still helping Simon out.

"I guess he [Price] can concentrate on his game a bit more but he's been normal since he's come back too."

Vatuvei used his recovery to celebrate his vows with Jennifer on December 5 before shooting across to Fiji for his honeymoon.