NRL 2021: Manly prop Martin Taupau battling to get a bite on the open market

Martin Taupau’s bid to test the open market has hit a major hurdle as clubs baulk at his huge asking price.

Martin Taupau is on the lookout for a new club. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Martin Taupau’s bid to cash in by testing himself on the open market has backfired with clubs baulking at his $800,000-a-year asking price.

News Corp Australia can reveal the Raiders are the latest club to have knocked back an approach from the Sea Eagles enforcer, who was given permission to field offers from rival clubs earlier this year.

Contracted to the Sea Eagles until the end of next year, Taupau has been selling himself to rival clubs through new agent Matthew Desira after being told the Sea Eagles would consider granting him a release at the end of the season.

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However initial interest in the prop has been cold.

The Raiders told Taupau’s agent they were not in the market for a marquee prop when the Sea Eagle was shopped to Canberra by way of phone call.

Martin Taupau has been given permission to field offers from other clubs. Picture: Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos

Canberra have a host of middle forwards contracted for next year and beyond, including Josh Papalii, Corey Horsburgh, Ryan James, Joseph Tapine and Hudson Young.

The Raiders are understood to be one of several club who are not interested in paying $800,000-a-year or more to snare Taupau from the Sea Eagles.

With Taupau set to turn 32 next year, many clubs consider signing the ageing prop on a big money deal to be a risk.

Taupau signed a two-year extension with Manly early last year but is already looking to get out of his deal with the Sea Eagles who are reported to be hunting Jayden Su’A as a replacement.

The former Bulldogs prop spoke glowingly about his future under Des Hasler after recommitting to the club until the end of 2022.

“It’s a very exciting day getting to sign for another two years,” Taupau said after inking the deal. “This club means a lot to me and has given me a lot of opportunities over the last couple of years.”

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“There is a special feeling at the club, we all feel it, from last season and the way all the boys have come back into pre-season and that we have kept the majority of our teammates and developing junior players

“I think our fans have plenty of reason to be excited for the next few years.”

Nathan Brown has also been mentioned as a replacement for the Sea Eagles as Manly get set for a roster shake-up.

Curtis Sironen, Jorge Taufua, Tevita Funa, Reuben Garrick, Dylan Walker, Kieran Foran and Morgan Boyle are all off-contract and are facing an uncertain future.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Manly prop Martin Taupau battling to get a bite on the open market