Sports Confidential: Martin Taupau set to exit Manly as Sea Eagles target Origin enforcer
Manly monster Martin Taupau could be on the move as the Sea Eagles launch a bid to sign a Queensland Origin back-rower as part of a major overhaul of their roster.
Michael Carayannis
and
Jamie Pandaram
10 min read
March 25, 2021 - 7:24PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
Marty Taupau could be on the move after being told his contract is unlikely to be renewed after next season.
Taupau, 31, has another year left on a monster Sea Eagles contract – worth about $800,000 – but the Sea Eagles would not stand in his way if he wanted to switch to a rival at the end of this year.
It comes as the Sea Eagles launch a bid to sign Queensland back-rower Jaydn Su’a.
Su’a is off-contract at season’s end and negotiations with the Rabbitohs are in their infancy.
Taupau’s departure could also open the door for Manly to make a rich play for Parramatta lock Nathan Brown, whose contract talks with the Eels have stalled.
The Sea Eagles are in the midst of a major roster revamp.
With Taupau’s immediate playing future at the club now uncertain there are a host of players in a similar situation. Curtis Sironen, Jorge Taufua, Tevita Funa, Reuben Garrick, Dylan Walker, Kieran Foran and Morgan Boyle are all off-contract and are facing an uphill battle to remain at the club.
Su’a, at 23, would be a perfect addition to the Sea Eagles forward pack after they locked away key youngsters including Sean Keppie, Haumole Olakau’ata, Taniela Paseka and Josh Schuster to long-term deals.
