NRL news: Siosiua Taukeiaho spurns Dolphins for rich Super League offer
It’s been a brutal fortnight for Wayne Bennett and the NRL’s 17th team, with recruitment blows coming at an alarming rate. And their latest failure will sting more than most.
NRL
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Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins have suffered another recruitment blow, losing out to Super League club Catalans in a bidding war for star Roosters prop Siosiua Taukeiaho.
News Corp can reveal Taukeiaho has knocked back a two-year, $1.2 million offer from the Dolphins, instead agreeing terms on Wednesday night to finish his career in France with Super League outfit the Dragons.
The Tongan Test enforcer will honour the final year of his contract with the Roosters next season before linking with Catalans in 2023.
It is another setback for NRL expansion newcomers the Dolphins, who have missed out on the signatures of big-name targets Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Christian Welch, Brandon Smith and Taukeiaho in the past fortnight.
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The Dolphins last week unveiled Queensland Origin back-rower Felise Kaufusi as their first signing - and super coach Bennett was hoping to make Taukeiaho his second addition.
But the Dragons have trumped the Dolphins in the battle for the two-time premiership-winning prop, who is keen for a change of scenery after a decorated seven-year stint at the Roosters that has so far seen Taukeiaho chalk up 149 games for the club.
Taukeiaho, who turns 30 in January, will reunite in France with former Roosters teammates Mitchell Pearce and Dylan Napa, who have inked deals with Catalans in the past week.
Taukeiaho’s decision represents a double whammy for the Dolphins.
The NRL’s 17th team were in talks with Taukeiaho and Storm hooker Brandon Smith in recent weeks, but the former is moving overseas, while the latter opted for the Roosters after being wined-and-dined by coach Trent Robinson.
It is understood Catalans enticed Taukeiaho with a two-year deal, plus an option for a third season in France.
The Roosters wanted to retain Taukeiaho, but their three-year, $2 million-plus bid for Kiwi Test rake Smith put further pressure on their salary cap, opening the door for the Dolphins and Catalans to target ‘TKO’.
A veteran of 11 Tests for Tonga, Taukeiaho is one of the most skilled front-rowers in the code, goalkicking at 78 per cent last season and charging for 2745 metres at an average of 130m per game in 2021.
Taukeiaho has a long association with new Dolphins recruitment chief Peter O’Sullivan, the former Roosters talent scout who first lured the forward to Bondi from the Warriors in 2014.
But O’Sullivan must turn his attention to fresh targets after Taukeiaho’s preference for Catalans leaves the Dolphins with one signing - Kaufusi - heading into Christmas.
The Dolphins are under pressure to secure more marquee talent but the NRL’s new franchise has another 15 months to sign 29 players before their premiership debut in 2023.
Bennett told News Corp last week the Dolphins are staying calm despite failing to snare Taukeiaho and Smith.
“No-one is panicking,” Bennett said.
“No-one is going to pull the trigger too early. It will take time. We will have a team ready to go this time next year. I hope over the next few months (we will have more signings).
“We’re talking to a number of players. We’ve been good as a club, we’ve kept our mouth shut.
“If you’re playing football and coming off-contract you could be a candidate for the Dolphins.”
Dolphins CEO Terry Reader said the Redcliffe-backed organisation were not concerned by missing out on a number of targets.
“Brandon’s management informed us that he would not be accepting our offer so we have moved on,” he said.
“We won’t be commenting publicly on current player negotiations but we are currently in ongoing talks with several players.
“As a club, we are very comfortable where we are positioned almost one year away from the start of pre-season and 15 months away from our first game in 2023.”
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