Former Manly prop Marty Taupau has five NRL clubs interested in his services, but they are unable to make an offer until the salary cap is finalised for 2023 and beyond.
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FIVE CLUBS CHASE TAUPAU AMID SALARY CAP WAITING GAME
Former Manly prop Marty Taupau has five NRL clubs interested in his services, but they are unable to make an offer until the salary cap is finalised for 2023 and beyond.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported nearly half a dozen clubs are interested in Taupau, but can’t make an offer until the NRL and Rugby League Players’ Association sign off on a new collective bargaining agreement.
Clubs are unsure about how much room they have in their salary caps until the new CBA is locked in.
Taupau, who was on $800,000 a season at Manly is one of the highest profile casualties of the delayed CBA decision and after not being paid since November 1, he is resigned to not finding a club until next year.
“It’s been a really frustrating and stressful time,” Taupau told The Herald.
“It’s now a waiting game, not at our end, but with all the negotiations happening with the NRL and RLPA.
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“Doing what we did with Toa Samoa at the World Cup and the success we had, it really lit a fire in me, and it got me excited for the coming season.
“I’ve been training three to four times a week, and I’m preparing physically and mentally for the 2023 season. I’m backing my ability to get a new deal.
“There are a number of clubs interested. But it comes back to the cap and how much clubs can spend.
“I don’t know when it will be time to start panicking. I genuinely believe I’ll end up at an NRL club, and I know I do have a number of good years left in the NRL.”
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Taupau had to pay his own insurance to play for Samoa at the World Cup and is hellbent on extending his NRL career into 2023 and beyond.
The Eels and the Knights were the two clubs interested in Taupau before the World Cup and Parramatta wanted Taupau ahead of last year’s finals series in a move that was blocked by now ex-Manly coach Des Hasler.
The 32-year-old has scored 20 tries in 222 games for the Bulldogs, Tigers and Sea Eagles since his NRL debut in 2010 and has played 33 Tests for New Zealand and Samoa.
