NRL 2023: Martin Taupau on Brisbane Broncos future and Josh Schuster’s issues at Manly
Desperate to avoid another stint on the scrapheap, Martin Taupau knows he faces a defining few months in his NRL career. Plus, what advice does he have for ex-teammate Josh Schuster?
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Martin Taupau has appealed for the Broncos not to show him the door as the rejuvenated Brisbane prop prepares to face the Manly club that left him “unemployed” and languishing on the NRL scrapheap.
The hulking 113kg frame of Taupau will be a crucial interchange weapon for the Broncos in Friday night’s Magic Round blockbuster against Anthony Seibold’s Sea Eagles at Suncorp Stadium.
Unwanted by the Sea Eagles, Taupau has proven one of the buys of the season, helping Brisbane (7-2) to the top of the league with his experience and damaging bursts off the bench.
Taupau, who turned 33 in February, goes into the Sea Eagles clash off-contract at season’s end, but ‘Kapow’ is so content at the Broncos the veteran of 231 NRL games is desperate to clinch a new deal at Red Hill.
“It’s a goal to stay here,” said Taupau, who plays his 10th consecutive game for the Broncos on Friday night.
“I have to simplify things and it’s a performance-based industry.
“I have to play some great football and hopefully at the end (of the season) I will get rewarded.
“There is so much at the Broncos from top to bottom, from the board, the CEO, the coaching staff, right down to the admin and the players.
“The culture here is phenomenal and the minute I walked in the doors, I felt this is my family and this is what I call home.
“I am grateful for the people that I am surrounded with and we have some great players here.
“I have to keep playing well, but I’m enjoying my time here and hopefully I get to prolong that for the next few years.”
In his pomp, Taupau was one of the best front-rowers in the code, amassing 24 Tests for the Kiwis and playing a key role in New Zealand’s epic defeat of Australia in the 2014 Tri-Nations final.
The hard-hitting enforcer amassed 156 games for Manly between 2016-22 and while he harbours no bad blood towards the Sea Eagles over his Brookvale exit, Taupau recalled his career uncertainty before the Broncos’ lifeline.
“It’s very sad to even mention retirement, because it has never been in any of my thought processes in terms of my rugby league career,” he said.
“I have invested so much time and money to get my body ready mentally, physically and spiritually for the NRL.
“I worked with a lot of great people that help me prepare week in, week out.
“It wasn’t ideal (being released by Manly).
“I was pretty much unemployed for three months at the back end of last year, but I’m very grateful for the opportunity the Broncos presented me.
“I took it with both hands and every single week I have to repay that by training hard and performing.”
Taupau’s former teammate Josh Schuster is currently on shaky ground at Manly and he hopes Sea Eagles bosses don’t sack the embattled 21-year-old, who has been ordered to get fit to save his career at Brookvale.
“It’s really hard for Josh Schuster,” Taupau said.
“There’s a lot of criticism in this day and age.
“With social media, it’s easy to criticise an individual and it’s easy for a youngster like him to get sucked into that, but he just needs to focus on his goal and simplify things.
“Focus on what you need to achieve week in, week out, whether it’s your fitness, your diet, mentally, spiritually, whatever it may be.
“When you cloud yourself with so many tasks, you will lose focus.
“Josh will be fine. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster, but it’s times like this that will make him stronger and more resilient in the next few years.”
In a boost for the Broncos, star prop Payne Haas and boom five-eighth Ezra Mam will return from suspension to face Manly, although Kobe Hetherington is in doubt after injuring his knee at training on Tuesday.
CONTRACT WARS: HAAS’ VALUE SOARS — BY DOING NOTHING
Robert Craddock
Payne Haas might be the first rugby league player to increase his worth by a six figure sum by sitting on his backside.
That was the cheeky but still sincere quip from one player agent after the suspended prop watched the Broncos look a completely different side without him when they lost 32-6 to Souths.
“It spotlighted the fact that while they may win the premiership with him they can’t do so without him so not playing actually increased his worth,’’ one agent said.
It was sobering news for the Broncos as they attempt to fight off a mega-offer from rugby union.
Origin legend Billy Moore tipped Haas to become the first prop to win the Dally M medal three years ago and has not changed his mind as the game changing prop prepares to return for Friday’s Magic Round showdown with Manly.
“He is like Jason Taumalolo a few years ago when he was running 220m each week,’’ Moore said.
“You just don’t realise how hard it is to get those numbers. You think “that’s just normal’’ and you get used to them but it’s only when he is not there that you realise what you are missing.
“In 2019 and 2020 when Brisbane was terrible Haas was a superstar. He is doing the same thing again but now for wins not losses.
“Pat Carrigan was still good but it showed how much all the forwards missed having that first ruck set up by Payne Haas.
“Much like Petero Civoniceva, that alpha male who takes the first run does not get fully appreciated.’
TRANSFER BLUES
Don’t be fooled into thinking the tears of Ricky Stuart and Jack Wighton after Saturday’s emotional Raiders win over the Dolphins will convince power brokers to scrap the midseason contract system.
Strange but true … the polar opposite could be true.
Senior rugby league officials have long felt the game must own the publicity cycle from Monday to Thursday between games and the Wighton contract affair was the perfect illustration of how it does.
No fan enjoys seeing their club’s finest player sign on for another club mid-season.
It’s messy, awkward and distracting for all involved. But rugby league never claims to be perfect.
The sport attracts huge television dollars because it needs off-field bushfires which just keep burning.
Rugby union would love to get the publicity league does but, while a lot more civilised, it has next to none of the spicy contract dramas that allow league to dominate the back pages.
Having a transfer window at the end of the season sounds great in theory but it takes a lot of drama out of a game that thrives on it.
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