Marty Taupau knows he could have been playing in his first NRL grand final with Parramatta on Sunday night, only to have his request to join the Eels mid-season rejected – twice – by Manly coach Des Hasler.
Taupau thought he was set to join the Eels before the August 1 deadline, so much so that he had even mentally prepared himself to play against his Manly teammates that week.
The 32-year-old trained next door to Accor Stadium on Saturday with the Samoan World Cup team, and while he is still without a deal for 2023 – but is closing in on a fresh contract with an NRL club – spoke for the first time about his frustrations at being denied the immediate move west.
“It’s always the what-if, but it is sad because it could have been a possibility I was playing tomorrow night,” Taupau told The Sun-Herald.
“It was only a reality for a small amount of time, but that window of opportunity was closed by Manly.
“I could have asked for a release via text message or phone call, but that’s not who I am. I went on two occasions to ask Des for a release. Unfortunately, it wasn’t granted.
Marty Taupau at Samoan training on Saturday.Credit:Rhett Wyman/SMH
“Des had his reasons. Obviously you get frustrated when people don’t meet you where you’re at with your journey.
“It was more frustrating with how it unravelled. I went to ask the club around the same time there was the rainbow jersey [issue], then I had a family member die suddenly and I had to go to Melbourne [for the funeral].
“But Des and I are big believers in things happening for a reason. In my mind I was ready for anything. Parramatta were due to play against Manly, and I was prepared to wear the blue and gold jersey. It’s my job.”
Taupau met Eels coach Brad Arthur who told the prop what he thought he could bring to the Eels, while the 32-year-old spoke about why he would be a good late-season pick-up.
The Manly prop knows he could have been playing in Sunday’s grand final with Parramatta.Credit:Rhett Wyman/SMH
Arthur conceded publicly at the time he was keen to have Taupau, but any move required Manly’s blessing.
Parramatta could yet end up Taupau’s future home with every club still awaiting official confirmation from the NRL about what the 2023 salary cap will be before making a move.
Samoa and coach Matt Parish have wasted no time training this week in Sydney and have the line-up to cause a Cup boilover.
Taupau is well aware he could be overseas at the Cup when November 1 rolls around and he is officially unemployed.
“But I’m confident we’ll get a deal done, and ever since I changed to my [carnivore] diet, I’ve felt the fastest, fittest and strongest I’ve been, both mentally and physically,” he said. “We’re close with one club, but there are a few others at the table.”
The rainbow jersey saga was the start of a dramatic fade-out by Manly, with suggestions the group became split, especially the seven players who refused to wear the colours for religious reasons.
Taupau is a proud Christian, but said he had no issues with the rainbow jersey. He said “tensions were high” at the end of the season, but it was more to do with losing rather than any rift among the group.
“It was a lesson for the whole club to be open and honest with the playing group,” Taupau said.
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