Vatuvei on Monday confirmed he had been granted an early release to join Super League club Salford, with the 31-year-old due to depart for the UK on Sunday.
For one night only, Mt Smart has been temporarily renamed 'Manu Vatuvei Stadium' and while his new contract prevented from playing one last game for the Auckland club, his soon-to-be ex-teammates formed a guard of honour as 'The Beast' walked onto the field with his family wearing the No 5 jersey he has held a mortgage on for more than a decade. He shed a few tears as he walked out to the rapturous applause.
