Storey Street boys in biggest NRL rivalry

Scott Bailey | March 25, 2022

It was deep in South Sydney territory that Latrell Mitchell and Joey Manu first became mates.

As the focal point of Friday night’s grudge match between the Sydney Roosters and the Rabbitohs, it can be easy to forget the positive history the pair share.

Before last year’s ugly hit on Manu that ended Mitchell’s season early with a ban, the duo held a relationship that dated well past their time in the NRL together.

Indeed, it goes back to their time in 2014 as the “Storey Street boys”, two teenagers growing up together in the Roosters House in Maroubra.

“There was eight of us,” Manu told AAP in an interview before the 2019 grand final, which ultimately proved the last game he and Mitchell played together.

“It was pretty cool, because everyone was in the same situation, being a long way from home.

“Trell had his brother (Shaquai) so they’d go back some weekends, they weren’t too far.

“We all just chilled out together and enjoyed each other’s company.”

Now two of the most dynamic players in the NRL, Manu and Mitchell’s early battles were on the ping pong table in Siosiua Taukeiaho’s room by the pool with Connor Watson also in residence.

Snape Park was the local hangout for Saturday afternoon touch football, while Manu also loved his video games after moving over from New Zealand.

“Because I didn’t have anyone over here it was just me and these boys,” Manu said.

“At the start, I just chilled by myself, and then as the years went on me and Latrell started SG Ball together and we had a lot of time for each other.

“It became easier (living in Australia and away from home) because of all the boys that came through together.”

With the pair’s teenage history considered, it makes it more understandable how they have managed to move on from last August.

Neither have seen each other in person since Mitchell’s high shot left Manu in hospital with three metal plates in his face, but the pair have exchanged messages.

And teammates insist their make up is genuine, and they don’t expect targets put on Mitchell’s back come Friday.

“You can only go from what those two say, they have put it behind them,” Souths hooker Damien Cook said this week. 

James Tedesco agreed, with the Roosters noting no change in Manu’s regularly-calm demeanour this week.

“Joey spoke to Latrell and cleared the air, so we’re sweet and all good,” Tedesco said.

“I don’t like to hold grudges or buy into it too much. 

“When we’ve done that in the past, that’s when we don’t play well.”

Whether that ceasefire lasts until the end of Friday night and the battle is as friendly as it was at Snape Park for the Storey Street boys, it all remains to be seen.