Manu Ma'u arrived in the NRL with few words and one hell of a backstory.

He announced his looming exit to teammates in similar fashion.

Understated, yet held in rare esteem by all who have defended beside him since 2014, feared like few others among those that have run at him.

"It was after a training session, Tepai [Moeroa] had all the boys around, he'd called them together to speak about how he was leaving to join the Waratahs," Ma'u begins.

"Then I told them too. I figured 'might as well'. And it was a bit like 'oh boys, while we're doing this...'

"It went well though. It was tough but it has to be done and everyone's really supportive."

Ma'u has five regular-season games and a likely finals series left with the Eels before joining English outfit Hull FC next year.

With eight Tests for Tonga after another six for New Zealand, Ma'u was in talks with Parramatta earlier this year.