Ex-Super League man to sign deal with NRL club after contract termination

NRL side Manly Sea Eagles look set to sign former Catalans Dragons forward Siosiua Taukeiaho, according to reports Down Under. Taukeiaho has been without a club since seeing his contract ripped up by the Dragons in July due to behaviour that was deemed to be highly unacceptable.

He has been linked with a number of clubs since with Canterbury Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters among those rumoured to be interested in the Tonga international, who will turn 33 before the start of the new NRL season. However, according to the Daily Telegraph, Manly are set to offer Taukeiaho a deal as they prepare themselves for the start of the 2025 season.

The prop looks set to sign a train and trial contract with the Sea Eagles with the view of being able to make it into Anthony Seibold’s top 30 before the start of the campaign. The news comes despite reports earlier in the off-season that the forward had managed to price himself out of a move to Manly due to his reported wage demands of around $500,000 a year.

Taukeiaho spent one and half seasons in Super League with Catalans but it’s fair to say he never really got going. He made a total of just 10 appearances for the French outfit, with troublesome injuries getting the better of him following his switch from the Roosters ahead of the 2023 campaign.

He did manage to score a try on his debut for the club and represented Steve McNamara’s side in the 2023 Grand Final, but he struggled for traction and failed to make it onto the field in 2024 before seeing his contract terminated alongside Jayden Nikorima and Damel Diakhate.

The New Zealand born prop started his NRL career with New Zealand Warriors, but made just one appearance for the club before joining in the Roosters in 2014. He spent nine seasons with the Roosters before his switch to France.

The report also adds that Manly’s pursuit of John Bateman has hit a snag, with the club needing to move a player on in order to squeeze the England international in.