League: No nicknames thanks, says Manu

The last thing Manu Vatuvei wants is to be stuck with a silly nickname.

"I just want to be Manu," said the softly spoken 19-year-old who has been tagged "Baby Jonah" back home in New Zealand and just may have captured the imagination of British rugby league fans accustomed to the try-scoring feats of Lesley 'The Volcano' Vainikolo.

Not that the 109kg, 189cm Auckland-born Vatuvei hasn't been impressed by the deeds of his fellow Tongan fliers.

"I was watching Jonah play back in the days," he said. "He used to be my role model.

"Then I grew up and I saw Vainikolo and I thought: 'Man he's big, I never want to run into him'. It's lucky he's a New Zealander, not a Pommie."

Perhaps surprisingly for someone who rates Lomu as his hero, Vatuvei has hardly dabbled in the 15-man code.

"I played rugby for a year just to see how I'd go. I kind of liked it, but I really love league.

"But Jonah was a winger and I looked up to him. Back at home some of the boys call me Jonah but I just want to be known as Manu. With all of the things Jonah's gone through, I'm no match for him. He's too big and strong."

Vatuvei's rise has been as surprising as it has been meteoric.

In five NRL games for the Warriors last season, he failed to notch a try.

Although he finally got on the scoresheet against Souths in round four this season and went on to score nine tries in 12 appearances, he was certainly the bolter in Brian McClennan's Tri-Nations squad.

Originally selected to fill Vainikolo's boots while he completed his Super League duties with Bradford, Vatuvei has gone from back-up to main man following Vainikolo's injury-enforced withdrawal.

"I never thought I'd make the Kiwis straight away. I thought I'd have to have a few years at Warriors first. It was pretty lucky for me with the boys going for surgery and all that. I am just stunned and proud that I am in the team."

After a mixed debut against Australia when he carried the ball strongly but spilled a simple catch to gift opposite number Matt King a try, Vatuvei has looked more at home with every appearance.

In his last test outing he reduced the highly-rated Great Britain winger Brian Carney to a fumbling wreck as the Kiwis posted a 42-26 victory in London.

"In my first test I was really nervous but the boys all picked me up.

"That's why I'm getting my confidence up every game, because I know the boys have got my back.

"Sometimes they bully me but I know they are just playing around because I am the youngest. I have got so close to everyone, everyone is my best mate."

If not for the questionable intervention of the video referee, he could have had a hat-trick against Britain but Vatuvei was delighted just to claim his first test try.

"I was so happy I couldn't stop smiling. It made my family proud."

If his current rate of ascent continues he might have trouble shaking that 'Jonah' tag but, for now, Vatuvei is simply relishing the prospect of a rematch against Britain in Huddersfield on Monday morning (NZ time).

"I am just going to give it my best, try to build my game every week and make the boys proud. I just can't wait to play. I wish the game was today."

- NZPA