Joseph Manu is close to returning to the NRL midway through the 2027 season before joining the PNG Chiefs in 2028.
Manu left the Sydney Roosters at the end of 2024 to join the Toyota Verblitz in Japan's Rugby One.
The 30-year-old then joined Racing 92 in France, where he is contracted until midway through 2027. The French Top 14 rugby union season typically ends in late June, after the championship final.
According to The Mole, the Sydney Roosters will begin the formal process of signing Manu in the 2027 season.
In August, it was confirmed that Joseph Manu would return to rugby league on a two-year deal with the PNG Chiefs in 2028.
Manu became 007 after the '007' hint from the club was posted on social media.
Speculation has suggested as early as July that he would return to the NRL earlier to get back into the game before heading to the Chiefs.
The Sydney Roosters won the premiership after defeating the Newcastle Knights in the Grand Final, but they will lose a lot of experience for the 2027 season.
Angus Crichton and Mark Nawaqanitawase are heading to rugby union; Daly Cherry-Evans will head to the Super League to play for Hull FC; Spencer Leniu was bought out of the final year of his deal and signed a four-year deal to join the Parramatta Eels; Connor Watson is heading to the Dragons on a one-year deal before joining the PNG Chiefs; and Daniel Tupou announced his retirement days after the Grand Final victory.
Trent Robinson spoke on the topic in September, and he didn't rule out the possibility, but he also didn't want to get ahead of himself.
"Well, I know he is going to PNG. Who knows. Who knows," Robinson said to the media.
"It has been great for Joey. He has got some adventure going to Japan and France and now Papua New Guinea.
"He deserves everything he gets, Joey. He is one of our favourites; he will always be a Roosters, but his adventure has taken him elsewhere.
"He is always welcome through these doors, that's for sure.
"He likes his European holidays, Joey, now that he has some culture in him, and I don't know what he is going to do once his [rugby union contract] finishes, so we will see what happens."
The centre could potentially reunite with Sam Verrills, who is understood to have signed a development deal with the tri-colours with the expectation he would sign a top 30 midway through the 2027 season.
Reuben Garrick also signed a two-year deal with the Roosters, providing a crucial need in the outside backs given who has left the club.
Sydney Roosters could potentially see a backline of James Tedesco, Tommy Talau, Joseph Manu, Robert Toia and Reuben Garrick in the second half of the premiership-defence season.
