As Joseph Manu sat in the Sydney Roosters dugout during last year’s NRL finals series he vowed to himself: Never again.

Twelve months ago the blockbusting 22-year-old was forced to watch on as his side bowed out one game short of the season decider.

After playing most of the 2017 season, including their final-round win over the Gold Coast, coach Trent Robinson chose Ryan Matterson for the finals series.

So ever since he returned to pre-season training, Manu has been carrying the pain of missing out and it has shown in his inspired showings this year.

Now an automatic selection, the New Zealand-born centre has flourished during his first taste of finals football and played a big hand in the Roosters’ drive to Sunday’s premiership decider with the Melbourne Storm.

“Ever since I watched that first finals game I just wanted to be a part of it … the atmosphere, the hype, the big game experience, the back and forth, those tough hits,” Manu said.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment.”

Robinson is a self-confessed defensive fanatic and Manu was told he had to work on his tackling and positioning so he set about working on that side of his game.

Manu said former Rooster Craig Fitzgibbon had worked on his defence while former Kangaroos and NSW winger Matt King had finessed his attacking skills.

“They’ve been special for me and this is what I’ve been working towards so it’s great to be here. I sat down and said ‘I want to play finals’.”

The fruits of Manu’s labour were evident during the preliminary final win over South Sydney when he came up with game-winning plays at both ends of the field within minutes of each other.

First he popped a miracle offload in traffic to send Blake Ferguson over midway through the second half.

Then, with the Rabbitohs on the attack and his side holding a slender four-point lead, he bundled Alex Johnston over the touchline on the first tackle.

Asked which play he thought was more special, Manu replied: “I liked the tackle.

“Fergo did most of the other job. I just was just lying on the ground watching him trying to score, they were both pretty cool.”