Sport Confidential: Pacific Championship nations to receive equal pay, Siosiua Taukeiaho in talks to join Manly Sea Eagles

The game payments for players across all nations at the Pacific Championships have been revealed, showing a surprising reason why players don’t need to pursue playing for tier-one nations. See the figures and more in Sport Confidential.

Players from every nation competing in the Pacific Championships will pocket the same money – $3000.

While Origin is certainly a carrot with its $30,000 per game payment, it means the players aren’t driven to choose a tier-one nation in order to chase a bigger payday.

PNG, Fiji and the Cook Islands receive the same as Australia, New Zealand and Tonga for their respective tournaments.

POTENTIAL NRL LIFELINE FOR FORMER ROOSTER

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.

FLASHBACK

Peter V’landys was announced as new ARL Commission chair on this day five years ago.

V’landys vowed to fix the NRL’s refereeing problems, upgrade suburban grounds, guaranteeing every club their future, ruling out any relocation of existing clubs and push to improve grassroots.

Daily Telegraph flashback from five years ago.

BULLDOGS SNARE RUGBY TALENT

In the same week Rugby Australia unveiled $9 million man Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, rugby league has secured a rising rugby union star who has drawn comparisons with Brisbane Broncos starlet Reece Walsh.

Teenage fullback Jai Callahan is set to join Canterbury’s SG Ball squad in 2025, following a standout performance at the Australian schoolboys rugby union carnival earlier this year.

He joins Wests Tigers teenager Heamasi Makasini and Sydney Roosters try-scoring sensation Rex Bassingthwaighte in spurning rugby union to sign with NRL clubs.

Jai Callaghan has shown his skills across both league and union. Picture: Rachel Wright.

Jai Callaghan pictured in the 2023 Andrew Johns Cup final for the Central Coast Roosters. Picture: Sue Graham

TIGERS TALENT DIRECTOR SEARCH

Want to be a Wests Tigers director? Here is your chance.

The Tigers have hired a global consulting firm to help identify candidates to fill the independent positions on their board and help develop a winning culture at the perennial cellar dwellers.

The Tigers are in pursuit of a new director. Picture: NRL Photos

Elevate Talent spruiks itself as an organisation that exists to unlock exceptional people, teams and organisational performance for companies who are big on ambition and small on the status quo.

In recent years, the Tigers have been big on ambition but small on results. The new Tigers, led by chair Barry O’Farrell and chief executive Shane Richardson, want that to change and they are looking for directors who can help them out.

According to the job description, the Tigers via Elevate Talent are looking for people who will support the club in developing a winning culture that will lead to “sustained success on and off the field”.

Interested persons are requested to be of the highest integrity, possess strong governance skills, display sound judgement, and have a proven track record in change management that has led to a successful culture.

We wish you luck.

Originally published as Sport Confidential: Pacific Championship nations to receive equal pay, Siosiua Taukeiaho in talks to join Manly Sea Eagles