Super League star HAS BEEN released as “false news” slammed

There has been a lot of talk around the future of Super League star Siousiua Taukeiaho in recent days.

The prop has had an unusual link with Super League, it has to be said. What do I mean by that? Well unlike most who are signed a matter of months before arriving at a new club at most a year, we knew Taukeiaho was headed to Catalans almost two years before he pulled on their jersey.

He was the latest signing that exploited the connection between Steve McNamara and his former club the Sydney Roosters where he acted as assistant coach under former Catalans boss Trent Robinson who also helps this connection which has likely seen James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce also make the move as well as some ill-fated moves such as the move for Dylan Napa.

But in 2023, after starring for Tonga in the World Cup and engaging in boxing at the conclusion of his time at Sydney Roosters, Taukeiaho made the move to Catalans.

However, he was in and out of the side with injury and then reports of homesickness emerged suggesting he wanted a move back to the NRL at the end of 2023 due to family reasons.

In August, Catalans Dragons said they would release the forward but there was an interesting line from owner Bernard Guasch about a move to Australia.

He said: “The club will be ready to negotiate if the player finds a new opportunity elsewhere.”

This implied that his release would be under the condition of an agreement with his new club which soon emerged to be Canterbury Bulldogs who wanted to sign him on a two year deal.

Now the Sydney Morning Herald have reported that the prop has not yet been released by the Dragons and can’t yet complete his move to Canterbury due to their squad being full in terms of the all important top 30.

However, French publications such as Treize Mondial have hit out at these suggestions suggesting that they are “false.”

They also claim that Taukeiaho has been released and the only reason he hasn’t joined Canterbury is because the club can’t sign him to his contract yet.