Former Panther, Warrior, Blue and Kangaroo Greg Alexander has stated that Roosters centre Joseph Manu should sit at the top of Redcliffe's shopping list ahead of their impending entrance to the NRL.

While Manu remains a contracted name in Sydney's east for the 2022 season, the Kiwi international is free to speak to suitors in the marketplace from November 1 this year.

Given the 25-year-old's flexibility throughout his six-year first-grade career, the man affectionately known as 'Brandy' held the view Manu could help the incoming franchise hit the ground running in 2023.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - APRIL 30: Joseph Manu of the Roosters during warmup prior to the round nine NRL match between the New Zealand Warriors and the Sydney Roosters at Mt Smart Stadium on April 30, 2017 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Speaking on SEN 1170,ย Alexander explained that when constructing a side from scratch it was vital to lockdown key position players before expanding on those that are paid to finish.

โ€œFirst, you have to look at the players available and what positions you need to sure up first,โ€ he exclaimed.

โ€œWhat are your most important positions? Well, the ones that touch the ball the most for mine.

โ€œI think you need a dummy-half, a half โ€“ whether itโ€™s a halfback or a five-eighth, you certainly need someone to run the game, and you need a good fullback and front-rower.

โ€œTheyโ€™re the positions most important to teams.โ€

JOSEPH MANU
Centre
Roosters
2021 SEASON AVG
0.3
Try Assists
0.3
LB Assists
0.4
Tries

The premiership Panther also stated that scouting a player of Manu's calibre would prove to be a wise option as there is currently a dearth of worthy halfback options currently in the market.

โ€œLooking through all the names, the halfback will be tough, thereโ€™s not an abundance of good halfbacks that can control the game,โ€ Alexander said.

โ€œThat has me wondering โ€ฆ that will be the interesting selection."

Having filled multiple positions across the park during his more than 100 NRL appearances, Alexander suggested that the two-time premier could act as a swiss army knife for the yet to be admitted side.

GOSFORD, AUSTRALIA - JULY 14: Joseph Manu of the Sydney Roosters runs the ball during the round 17 NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and the North Queensland Cowboys at Central Coast Stadium on July 14, 2019 in Gosford, Australia. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)

โ€œJoey Manu comes off contract, he could play in the halves, the centres or fullback, he could play anywhere," he continued.

โ€œIf I was in charge of Redcliffe heโ€™s a player Iโ€™d be targeting.โ€

While the Waikato-born Manu remained a lock in Alexander's mind, another Kiwi was also likely to pique the Moreton bay-based side's interest.

โ€œI think Iโ€™d go Joey Manu or Brandon Smith,โ€ theย  said.

โ€œEither one of those, if I had to make a choice out of those, thereโ€™s some other hookers around, so Iโ€™d go Joey Manu.โ€

TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 23: Brandon Smith of the Storm warms up before the start of the round 19 NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Melbourne Storm at QCB Stadium, on July 23, 2021, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Like his compatriot, Smith holds a contract for next season, but he can also commence formal discussions with rival clubs from the 1st of next month.

Recent reports have suggested that despite falling foul of the club's code of conduct, the hooker from Waiheke Island has an offer on the table to remain with the Storm beyond the cessation of 2022.

While an official announcement surrounding Redcliffe's inclusion to the competition is yet to be made, the tick of approval is set to be inked by the league at some stage prior to this Friday.