The clubs Super League and NRL target Marty Taupau turned down

Marty Taupau, alongside Josh Mansour, is perhaps the biggest free agent knocking around in rugby league after he left Manly Sea Eagles at the end of the 2022 NRL season.

The big prop starred for Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup even featuring in the final against Australia.

He has been linked with a move to Super League in the past with Leeds Rhinos being seen as potential suitors a few years ago.

However, this time around, at first at least, a move to Super League seemed unlikely with five NRL clubs leading the chase for his signature.

That said, the struggles between the NRL and RLPA (Players Association) ensured that the CBA negotiations were slow and that salary cap was left undecided.

This opened the door for Super League clubs who began sniffing around hoping to exploit the situation.

Even when the cap was decided upon, Super League clubs still had a strong chance of signing the prop due to the fact that the RLPA warned player to avoid signing new deals as the NRL had not confirmed the new cap with them and by extension had not given them the full details.

However, reports from down under say that Brisbane Broncos have signed the prop for 2023.

Meanwhile, Fox League have reported that the Broncos beat South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Parramatta Eels to his signature the later of which he nearly joined at the start of the 2022 season.

Meanwhile Super League clubs Leigh Leopards and Catalans Dragons were likely interested, though may not have made an offer.

Leigh have been linked with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves after owner Derek Beaumont said it was “the plan” to make further signings having confirmed the club want to bring in a middle.

The Dragons were also linked with JWH after the release of Dylan Napa. Now it is beginning to become concerning for the Dragons as prop options become less so.