Sport Confidential: Siosiua Taukeiaho in talks to join Manly Sea Eagles

Having been blocked from joining the Bulldogs and priced out of a Roosters return, dual premiership winner Siosiua Taukeiaho is poised to land at the Sea Eagles.

Manly are prepared to throw former Rooster Siosiua Taukeiaho a lifeline having held discussions about securing the premiership-winning forward.

Taukeiaho, who had informal chats with his former club the Roosters about a potential return, now seems likely to join the Sea Eagles with Manly keen to add some experience to their middle stocks. Canterbury had also been keen on landing Taukeiaho after prolonged discussions with Taukeiaho even undergoing rehabilitation at the Bulldogs in recent weeks.

However, Manly now seem his most likely destination with the Sea Eagles wanting to get him across – initially on a train-and-trial deal and then into a top 30 spot. It is a similar situation to that of Nathan Brown who signed with the Sea Eagles on a train and trial contract before earning a full-time contract.

Siosiua Taukeiaho could join the Sea Eagles on a train and trial deal. Picture: AAP Image/Craig Golding

The Sea Eagles remain interested in out of favour Tigers forward John Bateman but those talks seemed to have stalled in recent days. Manly want some experience and toughness to add to their pack but need to potentially move a player on to accommodate Bateman.

The 32-year-old Taukeiaho last played in the NRL for the Roosters in 2022. He almost joined the Bulldogs ahead of this year but failed a medical on his ongoing knee problem.

Taukeiaho played for Catalans last year and was cut by the French based club in July.

A move to have Taukeiaho play out the rest of this year with the Bulldogs was blocked by the NRL given it was after the June 30 transfer window. Taukeiaho was sacked by the Catalans after he skipped a training session to attend a music concert alongside fellow former NRL player Jayden Nikorima. The players pretended to be ill to attend the concert in England.

Originally published as Sport Confidential: Siosiua Taukeiaho in talks to join Manly Sea Eagles