NRL club Gold Coast Titans have bid farewell to one of their most senior stars in prop Isaac Liu ahead of the 33-year-old’s reported move to Super League.
After Gold Coast closed out their 2024 season with a defeat against Penrith Panthers, the club released a statement to pay tribute to their departing players Isaac Liu and Erin Clark.
Specifically on Liu, Gold Coast’s statement said that the 33-year-old is “set to farewell the NRL in 2024”, indicating that his 272-game career down under looks likely to have come to a close.
That ties in with recent reports from Rugby League Live that Liu is being lined up by Leigh Leopards to help replace departing prop Tom Amone, who will make the switch back down under when he joins Canterbury Bulldogs for 2025.
Those reports emerged last month with the three-time NRL champion a target to help bolster Leigh’s pack and also their leadership group with club captain John Asiata one of the other overseas players departing at the end of the season.
Could Isaac Liu be heading to Super League?
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
With the previous reports and Gold Coast’s specific wording that their 33-year-old powerhouse would ‘farewell the NRL’, it seems apparent that his career down under has come to a close and he could be set for one last dance in Super League.
The Leopards brought in Aaron Pene in a mid-season move which has proven successful but more size and depth needs to be added to a team that has suffered terribly with injuries in 2024.
Liu would offer both experience and hardiness with the former New Zealand and Samoa international standing at six foot two inches tall, and proving his resilience by the fact he has played 272 times in his 13-year career.
In fact, his leadership was noted by the Titan’s CEO Steve Mitchell in the club’s statement.
“Isaac has had an incredible career in the NRL across both our club and previously at the Roosters,” he said.
“His resume is substantial in terms of what he has been able to achieve in the game, but he’s arguably had just as big of an impact off the field in terms of his leadership.
“At 33 years of age, he’s been able to help shape some of our young forwards and the work he has done while at our club will not quickly be forgotten.
“We wish Isaac and his family the best for the next stage of his football journey and again thank him for his considerable contribution while at the Titans.”
Liu would likely be a brilliant signing for Leigh who are in desperate need to replenish their pack with Tom Amone, Kai O’Donnell and John Asiata all leaving at the end of the season.
