It is hard to think when the big No 8 last had a bad game.
You know what you are going to get from the Highlanders co-captain: hard, straight ball-running, punishing defence and non-stop action for 80 minutes.
His absence last year, when a foot injury ruined his season 40 minutes into the first game, was a big reason the 2013 season went the way it did for the Highlanders.
Last year, though, is a distant memory for Manu. And he also wants to get rid of the thoughts of the disappointing loss against the Force last week.
''There were just a couple of errors which cost us in the way we played. It is probably more of an individual thing,'' he said.
''In defence we were missing those individual tackles and not having good line speed. With our attack it is just about accuracy.
"We are creating opportunities. It is just at the end the final pass. You have got to take those opportunities when you are in their 22.''
The coaches call them ''fixables''. But what was of most concern for those watching last week was the lack of composure in the final minutes for the Highlanders when the game was on the line and the opposition was down to 13 men.
Manu (25) conceded his team was not switched on enough as the taxing quality of the game caught up with them.
''The last few moments we were quite slow, not as energetic and excited as we should have been. I think that comes down to pressure.
"We put a lot of pressure on ourselves. We just needed to pick what to do and then go about doing it.''
Manu is in his first year as co-captain with Ben Smith and said he was enjoying the role.
The co-captain idea did not contribute to the lack of action at the end of the game against the Force, Manu said.
''For me, the main thing is to perform well and the boys will follow ... I like the challenge.
"It has been a pretty exciting year so far. We just need to take our chances. We could have beaten the Chiefs.
"If we had taken the opportunities against the Force then we could have won. We just need to do that. It is pretty close, not far away.''
Not far away is not good enough for Manu. He wants to win, and the Hurricanes lie in wait tonight.
''Against the Hurricanes you can't afford to rest. They have some good individual players, so we can't afford to give them any room.
"We have to stay focused and then come up together in a line, making our one-on-one tackles.''
Matches between these sides have always been close. The past 10 games between the rivals have been decided by seven points or fewer.
The Highlanders have to play above themselves, and take every chance that comes along.
The Hurricanes have match-winners over the park but it will be team execution which will win the game for either side.
