NRL Market Watch: Roosters baulk at Siosiua Taukeiaho asking price, Leo Thompson makes Knights sweat
The Sydney Roosters have shut the door on a bid for veteran prop Siosiua Taukeiaho to rejoin the club, while Knights star Leo Thompson is set to becomes a free agent on November 1. MARKET WATCH.
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Tongan Test star Siosiua Taukeiaho’s shock return to the Roosters has collapsed after the Bondi glamour club baulked at his $500,000 asking price.
Taukeiaho had been in secret talks with Roosters powerbrokers in recent weeks as coach Trent Robinson looked for a replacement for veteran enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who has joined English club Hull KR.
The negotiations were so advanced that the parties discussed Taukeiaho undergoing a medical to ensure the prop was fully fit after an injury-plagued two-year stint with French club Catalans Dragons.
Taukeiaho developed into one of the code’s best front-rowers at the Roosters during an eight-season tenure that netted 168 first-grade games and back-to-back premiership rings in 2018-19.
The Roosters were open to a Taukeiaho comeback to provide some experience to a pack that will lose 316-game legend Waerea-Hargreaves and Bulldogs recruit Sitili Tupouniua next season.
But the parties hit a financial hurdle and were unable to agree terms, with the Roosters lacking the salary-cap space to meet Taukeiaho’s asking price.
Taukeiaho’s only hope of a Roosters lifeline is if the 32-year-old is prepared to accept a reduced salary, but that appears unlikely.
It is the latest setback in a series of contract dead-ends for Taukeiaho, who remains in limbo and could be forced into early retirement after struggling to strike a deal thus far for an NRL return.
Taukeiaho had agreed terms on a two-year contract with the Bulldogs last season, only for the deal to fall through when he failed a medical due to a foot injury that restricted him to 10 games at Catalans.
Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo had fresh interest in Taukeiaho in August, but it’s understood the Bulldogs no longer have a vacancy on their NRL roster for 2025.
Taukeiaho has also been linked with Manly but, like the Roosters, the Sea Eagles have salary-cap constraints and can’t afford to spend $500,000 on a prop who has battled foot and calf injuries.
Taukeiaho would have been a handy signing for the Roosters at the right price, especially given his goalkicking ability, but the club is showing faith in rising bookends, former Broncos brothers Xavier and De La Salle Va’a.
Taukeiaho has returned to Australia following his turbulent stint at Catalans and has also been linked with a boxing cameo - the 108kg enforcer has been offered a heavyweight fight against former NRL bad boy Curtis Scott.
KNIGHTS LEFT TO SWEAT OVER THOMPSON’S CALL
- Fatime Kdouh
Newcastle fans could be left sweating all summer long for Leo Thompson to make a call over his future after the highly sought after prop revealed he won’t rush into making a decision.
Thompson is set to generate plenty of interest from rival clubs, and earn a bumper pay rise from his current deal worth around $320,000 in 2025, when he can officially start fielding offers from November 1.
It’s expected up to eight clubs will be vying for Thompson’s services for seasons 2026 and beyond, including the likes of Canberra, Wests Tigers, St George Illawarra, Sydney Roosters and South Sydney.
The Canterbury Bulldogs are in the market for a formidable forward and are also expected to make a big play for the 24-year old.
The Kiwi international, who will line-up against Tonga at Go Media Stadium in Auckland on Saturday, said he isn’t in a hurry to lock in his future and will wait until after the Pacific Championships.
“I haven’t thought about it at all, to be honest,” Thompson told 1News in New Zealand.
“My focus is here at the Kiwis and, once I finish up, I’ll have a think about it.”
It leaves the Knights in a battle to retain Thompson, who is eager to test his value on the open market.
But given that November 1 is shaping as a “middles market”, the Knights are at risk of being blown out of the water by cashed-up rivals.
The Knights have been in contract talks with Thompson’s management and have tabled a second upgraded deal in a bid to keep the rising forward in Newcastle beyond 2025.
It’s believed Thompson has rejected the three-year extension offer.
Thompson also revealed the lure of playing in the NRL alongside his twin brother Tyrone, at the same club, would not ultimately influence his decision.
Tyrone, a Super Rugby star, has joined the Knights on a development deal for 2025 after three seasons with The Chiefs over in New Zealand.
The one year deal for Tyrone at the Knights means the brother could still end up at the same club in 2026.
“He will be part of my thinking but also, he’s his own man, I’m my own man,” Thompson said.
“My brother is starting pre-season (with the Knights) this week.
“It will be cool to link back up with my brother.
“I haven’t played with him for about five years now and it would be mean to get a game with him again.”
RABBITOHS X-FACTOR A TOP TARGET
Tyrone Munro is shaping as new South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett’s biggest retention test with the club to hold decisive contract talks with the boom Rabbitohs winger in the coming days.
South Sydney told this masthead that the club has a strong desire to retain Munro and he remains a high retention priority under Bennett.
Munro, who is signed until the end of 2025, has a three-year deal on the table but looks set to test the open market from November 1 unless the parties can agree on extension terms in the coming days.
The 19-year-old is viewed as the future in the outside backs at South Sydney but the club could find itself in battle to keep the talented youngster if he left to test his value on the open market.
The speedster, who has scored six tries in just seven games, is a genuine X-factor putting him on the radar of a number of clubs looking to add pace and strike to their outside backs.
Clubs including Parramatta and Newcastle are looking to add speed to their outside backs and Munro fits the bill.
While South Sydney are in a hurry to get the Munro deal done, Bennett is expected to take his time before making a call on the future of a number of other Rabbitohs that will become free agents from November 1.
The club is yet to offer young forward Davvy Moale an extension beyond 2025 meaning a rival outfit can swoop on the South Sydney local junior in the coming days.
The Rabbitohs are keen to retain Moale but Bennett won’t be rushed into a decision, leaving the young prop to make an impression on the mastercoach during the upcoming pre-season.
Bennett handed Moale his NRL debut back in 2021 during his first stint at the club.
But given the fact that November 1 is shaping as a “middles market”, Moale is expected to generate plenty of interest from rival outfits looking to beef-up their forward stocks.
St George Illawarra, Canterbury, Melbourne and even the Eels are some of the clubs looking to add a prop to their top-30 rosters.
The market for Moale will only get bigger if the Wests Tigers can’t retain Fonua Pole and the Newcastle Knights fail in their bid to lock in Leo Thompson, who will be the hottest prop target for clubs from November 1.
Flyer Alex Johnston, who is signed until the end of 2025, is yet to be offered an extension but the club will progress talks in the coming weeks.
The winger is in a race to line-up for Round 1 as he recovers from an Achilles injury suffered back in July.
Johnston, 29, was almost forced to exit South Sydney back in 2020 due to a salary cap squeeze, which led to an online fan petition demanding the try-scoring flyer be re-signed by the club.
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STORM MOVES TO BLOCK PAP ATTACKS
Melbourne will hold crunch contract talks with Ryan Papenhuyzen in the next 48 hours in a bid to secure the superstar fullback before he hits the open market on Friday.
Papenhuyzen has a long-term extension on the table but is set for a decisive meeting with club co-owner and chairman Matt Tripp, who will return from overseas today.
At the top of Tripp’s agenda is Papenhuyzen, who has been linked to several Sydney clubs, including Parramatta and Canterbury.
The Storm are hopeful Papenhuyzen will agree to remain beyond 2025 in Melbourne, where he is part of a formidable spine combination alongside Harry Grant, Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes.
It’s believed the sticking point in contract talks has been Papenhuyzen’s value. The 26-year-old is set to earn around $900,000 in 2025, the final year of his deal with the Storm, and top $1 million with endorsement and sponsorship deals.
But it’s understood Papenhuyzen is seeking an upgrade on his deal at the Storm.
If Papenhuyzen and Melbourne can’t agree to terms before Friday, the fullback will be a hot commodity on the open market, fetching offers around $1m per season.
Papenhuyzen is an irresistible option to Sydney clubs desperate to add a player of his calibre to their top-30 rosters.
Canterbury has been rebuilding its roster under coach Cameron Ciraldo and have been actively looking to inject class into the top 30, luring Stephen Crichton from Penrith and Sitili Tupouniua from the Sydney Roosters.
Parramatta’s contract saga with Clint Gutherson could leave the Eels in search of an elite fullback, and with the money to pursue Papenhuyzen if the Eels skipper defects to St George Illawarra.
Papenhuyzen has, however, had a history of injury and has been limited to 50 games in the last four seasons due to concussion and hamstring issues, and more recently a broken kneecap and ankle.
Papenhuyzen’s decision could also have an impact on the future of boom fullback Sua Fa’alogo at the club.
Fa’alogo is signed until the end of 2028 but is seen as a fullback and could find himself stuck behind Papenhuyzen if he agrees to stay in Melbourne.
The livewire has impressed when called on but is not in Craig Bellamy’s best 17 with Will Warbrick and Xavier Coates having the wing spots locked down while Tyran Wishart preferred as the bench utility.
Originally published as NRL Market Watch: Roosters baulk at Siosiua Taukeiaho asking price, Leo Thompson makes Knights sweat
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