Sydney Roosters head coach Trent Robinson has left the door ajar for Joseph Manu to join the club on a short-term deal at the end of 2027.
The Chiefs recently confirmed Manu would sign with the club for their inaugural season in 2028, marking his return to rugby league after a stint in rugby union.
Currently based in France, Manu's contract will expire in the middle of 2027, leaving him without a club for the second half of 2028.
That has left the potential option of him joining an NRL club for a short run towards the NRL finals, with the Roosters, his former home in the competition, often suggestion previously as a place where they would always have a spot for the star.
Quizzed on Friday, Robinson indicated there was a chance of it happening.
"Well, I know he is going to PNG. Who knows. Who knows," Robinson said.
"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."
Manu would essentially finish in rugby union and need to be signed to an NRL club the next week, with the NRL's transfer deadline for in-season moves and squad additions slamming shut at the end of July.
The Roosters have something of a backline issue heading into the coming years.
They have signed Reuben Garrick on a deal from the Manly Sea Eagles, but they have lost Manu and Joseph Suaalii in recent years, while Mark Nawaqanitawase heads back to rugby union at the end of this year.
Daniel Tupou is also yet to confirm he will go around again, although all signs are pointing to that being the case.
The Roosters' push for more backline players has been clear in recent times, with the tri-colours close to doing a deal with North Queensland Cowboys star Murray Taulagi, although reports in recent days suggest he is now likely to play rugby union in Japan next year.
The Roosters will be keen to continue pushing their own talent, but it's clear there could be a gap in the roster for next year, and that a raid on the player market is the only way to immediately fix it.
Manu would not do that for the entire season, but his addition on a possible premiership pursuit at the end of the season could move the needle for the Bondi-based outfit.
