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Joey Manu is often regarded as one of the most selfless players in the NRL, and the Sydney Roosters centre's traits can be traced back to his Anzac learnings.

The Sydney Roosters can thank the legacy of the Anzacs for the very values they love most about Joey Manu.

Notably, those of comradeship, commitment, courage and integrity.

The nephew of a Royal New Zealand Air Force member, Manu will play his fifth Anzac Day game for the Roosters against St George Illawarra on Monday.

But April 25 has been a day of importance right through his life.

A member of the Service Academy at Tokoroa High School growing up, Manu had experience in a military like set up with week-long physical camps on army grounds and marching on Anzac Day.

"We didn't really have a big school, about 300 students," Manu recalled.

"Nearly all the teachers at school were my aunties and uncles.

"My uncle used to be in the Air Force and was the teacher. So all the kids who wanted something different, you'd do it.

"You did marching and go away and do camps on the New Zealand army stuff.

"They do certain things people in the army do. They might go away for a week and practice that stuff. It was pretty cool to learn that stuff."

The centre is widely regarded as one of the most-loved players at the Tri-colours, with his humble team-first nature often referenced by coach Trent Robinson.

And the aforementioned values are those referenced as at the core of the 60-student academy on the Tokoroa school website.

Beyond outdoor education and first-aid courses, it lists roles with the elderly and assisting those in need as vital in their service.

Manu has rarely strayed far from those lessons, with the 25-year-old's high school days and participating in Anzac commemorations regularly on his mind during April.

"All those memories ... is stuff you reflect on when you go out on the field and you do the Last Post and see all the people," Manu said.

"It's a small town but whenever something like that happens everyone seemed to get together and respect those occasions.

"I remember going there with my family and my uncles and my dad. It's something I remember on Anzac Day, it's nice."

More than 30,000 are expected in at the SCG on Monday, marking Sydney's biggest crowd for a rugby league match since the same fixture last year.

The Roosters are also aware they need to step it up.

Luke Keary conceded this week they were no longer among the biggest threats in the competition, a tier below the likes of Melbourne, Penrith and South Sydney.

But the Tri-colours are banking on Sam Verrills improving their attack, named to start on Monday after returning from injury for his first game of the year off the bench against the Warriors.

"His service from dummy-half is second to none, his passing from No.9 is the best I have ever received," lock Victor Radley said.

"And that's saying something because Jake Friend is pretty slick in there."