Tongan international Willie Manu has returned to the NRL almost a decade after he departed for the UK, having signed a one-year deal with the Sydney Roosters.

Manu debuted for the Wests Tigers in 2001, joined the Rabbitohs in 2004, played for the Dragons in 2005 then spent nine years at Castleford, Hull and St Helens, where he won a title last year.

The 34-year-old was unveiled in the Tricolours' Auckland Nines squad on Saturday.

He told Roosters TV he had been planning on returning to Australia anyway but when the chance to join the Roosters came up he jumped at it.

You can watch the full interview on Roosters.com.au here.