NRL Market Watch: Rabbitohs lock-in Tatola, Bulldogs set to sign $1m Taukeiaho deal
The Rabbitohs have locked down their reigning player of the year with a four-year extension as the Bulldogs prepare to field a formidable team in 2024. Full details in NRL Market Watch.
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Junior Tatola, South Sydney’s reigning player of the year, has signed a four-year extension with the Rabbitohs.
The 26-year-old’s new deal is believed to be worth in the vicinity of $2.5 million and ensures he will remain part of their engine room until at least the end of 2028.
Since making his debut against the Warriors in 2018, Tatola has gone on to play 132 matches for Souths and six Test matches for Tonga.
He was also awarded the George Piggins Medal last season and says he feels at home at South Sydney.
“I’ve got a lot of people to thank for getting me to this position where I can secure my, and my family’s, future for the next five years,” Tatola said.
“Firstly, the club, for believing in me. When I first came and made the NRL it was a big thing for me and to be able to extend for another four years is just a blessing. I’m so grateful to this club for what they’ve done for me and for what I’ve been able to achieve here.
“I want to thank the members and the fans. They’ve been so good to me, and this club means a lot to me and my family.
“I love this club and want to repay them and the members by playing good footy every week.
“I’d like to thank my teammates and coaches. You are the ones that give me the confidence to go out and perform each week and I love playing and working with you all.
“When I came here I was a young guy looking for direction and now I’m a dad that feels like I’m contributing to the team whilst providing for my fiancée, Shannon, and my little boy, Mateo.
“Being able to bring my little boy into the sheds and include him as part of the Souths family is really special.
“Those little moments are so big for our family and I can’t thank this club enough for having the faith in me to represent the Rabbitohs every week.”
Gus Gould’s $1m raid for Roosters title winner
Sio Siua Taukeiaho is on the verge of a shock return to the NRL with Phil Gould’s Bulldogs launching a $1 million poaching raid for the former Roosters premiership enforcer.
This masthead can reveal Taukeiaho plans to sever ties with French Super League club Cat
alans Dragons at season’s end to help spearhead coach Cameron Ciraldo’s Bulldogs fightback next year.
Taukeiaho has interest from several NRL clubs, with Canterbury’s Sydney rivals the Dragons and Wests Tigers also expressing interest in the Tongan Test powerhouse.
But it is understood the embattled Bulldogs are the front-runners to win his signature, with Ciraldo and football boss Gould having held talks with Taukeiaho as they look to break Canterbury’s 20-year premiership drought.
Taukeiaho’s move from France to Belmore could have major ramifications for the Broncos in the battle for NSW Origin superstar Payne Haas.
The Bulldogs have been heavily linked with Brisbane’s star prop Haas but the impending signing of Taukeiaho, a fellow front-rower, further erodes Canterbury’s spending capacity under the salary cap.
Taukeiaho has not officially signed with Canterbury, but the Bulldogs are confident they have got their man.
Canterbury are in the advanced stages of finalising a two-year deal worth around $500,000 a season to secure Taukeiaho, continuing an aggressive recruitment drive that has netted Bronson Xerri, Liam Knight and Stephen Crichton.
Former Titans playmaker Toby Sexton also shifted to Belmore a fortnight ago and Ciraldo views Taukeiaho’s title-winning pedigree as a critical plank in his blueprint to revive the Bulldogs as a finals force.
Taukeiaho, who turns 32 in January, has told officials at Catalans he is keen to return to the NRL after fielding fresh offers in recent months.
The veteran of 168 NRL games only defected to the Super League this season after a successful eight-year stint at Bondi where he won back-to-back premierships with the Roosters in 2018-19.
Catalans are currently leading the Super League premiership after 19 rounds and while Taukeiaho is contracted to the French club for another 12 months, he is ready to return to Australia next year to resurrect his NRL career.
The Tigers have discussed a three-year deal for Taukeiaho, but Canterbury’s offer is more lucrative.
Catalans are pushing for a transfer fee or a player swap to match Taukeiaho’s standing before they release him from the final year of his deal.
The player does not necessarily have to come from the Bulldogs but the French outfit wants to be compensated before they formally release Taukeiaho.
The Eels paid a transfer fee of $50,000 to fast-track Joey Lussick’s release from St Helens just this week.
He only joined Catalans on a two-year contract this year following a decorated stint at the Roosters.
The Bulldogs also hatched a plan to sign Taukeiaho’s Catalans teammate Tyrone May earlier this year but quickly withdrew their interest.
The acquisition of Taukeiaho is another boost for the lowly Bulldogs. A veteran of 13 Tests for Tonga, Taukeiaho brings skill, toughness and experience to a Canterbury club under pressure to climb out of the NRL cellar.
MOYLAN-PEARCE COMBO AT CATALAN
- David Riccio
English Super League leaders Catalans have reached out to Matt Moylan as a potential recruit for next season.
In what could develop into a major overhaul of the Sharks spine going forward, Catalans are targeting Moylan to lead the side alongside veteran halfback Mitchell Pearce.
A mainstay in the Sharks halves for the past six years, Moylan isn’t off contract at Cronulla until the end of 2024.
The former Test and NSW State of Origin representative would need to approach the Sharks for a release from the final year of his deal, if a formal offer from Catalans was to eventuate.
Moylan’s omission from Cronulla’s first grade line-up against Manly last Sunday has proven the trigger for serious interest from the Super League heavyweights.
The attacking five-eighth has again been overlooked this weekend, named as Cronulla’s 18th man against Penrith on Saturday night.
Cronulla officials are aware of the approach to Moylan from Catalans officials.
Currently leading the UK Super League, Catalans believe Moylan would prove a lethal attacking foil for Pearce. Moylan has delivered 16 try assists in 17 appearances, 22 tackle busts and 14 line break assists for the Sharks this season.
Moylan’s former Cronulla teammate Matt Ikuvalu has recently joined Catalans.
Moylan, 32, has fallen victim to the Sharks recent form slump and dramatic decline in defence with his demotion from first grade resulting in Braydon Trindall being elevated into the halves alongside Nicho Hynes.
Trindall is viewed as the Sharks long-term halves option with his most recent opportunity against Manly and against Penrith on Saturday night an opportunity as much as it is an early look at the future for Cronulla.
Plagued by injury through seasons 2019 and 2020, Moylan has benefited from a committed off-field focus and attention to his body, culminating in a total of 15, 24 and 17-games currently across the past three seasons.
BULLDOGS SKIPPER BLINDSIDED BY SHOCK RELEASE
- Dean Ritchie
Was it misinformation or an embarrassing backflip?
In a strange twist, Canterbury club captain Raymond Faitala-Mariner is now remaining at the Bulldogs.
A meeting between Faitala-Mariners’ manager, Ernie Santone, and Bulldogs management on Tuesday ended speculation the player would be permitted to leave.
The confusion around Faitala-Mariner’s future has been heavily speculated since Sunday.
Faitala-Mariner still has another two years remaining in his current contract.
Canterbury officials claimed the club never wanted to lose Faitala-Mariner and suggestions he would depart did not come from within the club.
This masthead carried a story on Tuesday claiming Santone wasn’t told Faitala-Mariner had been granted permission to look at his options.
At the time, Santone said: “I have spoken to Ray and he is in the dark just as much as I am at this stage.
“I have had no official contact from Canterbury to say he has permission to leave or talk to other clubs so l am disappointed with all the talk coming out of the club.
“From my point of view, we signed a new three-year contract 12 months ago.
“So this is all coming from the club because there’s no reason why we would be looking anywhere else, that’s for sure.”
The matter has now been settled amid much uncertainty.
Santone also denied rumours claiming he had contacted the club claiming Faitala-Mariner was frustrated with the Bulldogs’ intense training program and where he was selected.
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Originally published as NRL Market Watch: Rabbitohs lock-in Tatola, Bulldogs set to sign $1m Taukeiaho deal
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