Manu Ma’u has explained how lockdown has helped him settle into his new life in the UK, and believes the enforced break came at the right time for him after a busy period on the field at the end of 2019.
The former Parramatta back-rower, who made just three appearances for the Airlie Birds in the first stage of the 2020 season after suffering with injury, believes the break has allowed him time to recover, as well as find his feet with his family in his new environment in East Yorkshire.
Ma’u is expected to feature this weekend as the Black & Whites take on Salford Red Devils at Emerald Headingley in their first game back in action.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, brought to you in association with Jacuzzi®, Ma’u said: “I think the break came at the right time for me.
“With the injury I had, and all the footy I played at the back end of last season including the internationals, I didn’t get much of a rest before I came over so.
“I’m just looking forward to this week’s game now. It has been a long break and I’m keen to get back on that field and show everyone what I am capable of.”
Despite the lockdown and being thousands of miles away from the majority of his family, Ma’u explains that he has settled well in the UK.
“I’m really settled here now. The weather has been helpful – we’ve been making the most of the beaches around here as much as we could during lockdown, getting a few recovery swims in too. But the family have settled well and they’re really happy here.
“It was tough at first with my full family not being over here. Moving over to a new country in a situation like that is challenging. Speaking to my parents, brothers and sisters made it a little bit easier though.”
With a change of head coach since the last time Ma’u took to the field, the back-rower believes the change has made all members of the first-team squad more accountable for themselves, while explaining their is a new-found confidence amongst the group.
“It has been strange. Obviously it was Lee (Radford) who signed me to come over, and it was hard on everyone at the club to see him leave. But we have a great bloke in Andy Last in charge now, and we’re all behind him, one hundred percent.
“Everyone else has had to step their game up with a new coach in charge, and be more accountable for themselves.
“I also believe we have that confidence back. When everyone turned up for training on the first day back, everyone was bouncing and ready to hit the ground running. I feel like everyone has the confidence to push on and the lockdown has given everyone a new motivation to move forward.
Ma’u also touched on the new ‘six again’ rule, which the Black & Whites will experience for the first time in competitive action this weekend against the Red Devils.
“I think it will be good for us as a side, especially with the middles and forwards we have here. I think it will suit our game and hopefully it falls in our favour, and not against us.
“We have agile forwards and it will allow us to play the game faster.
“It seems to be working really well in the NRL at speeding up the game, so I’m looking forward to seeing it in action.”
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