Daniel Tupou will soon have to decide whether to remain at the Sydney Roosters – and complete the tallest, most intimidating back line in the NRL – or entertain a big-money move to the Super League or Japanese Rugby.
Newcastle’s English giant Dominic Young will link with the Roosters next year, with the 200cm right winger to join Joey Manu (192cm), new left centre Joseph Suaali’i (196cm) and, potentially, left-winger Tupou (196cm).
The Tongan international is showing no signs of slowing down as he enters his 12th season at the Bondi club. Tupou posted a career-high 16 tries last year and was recalled to the NSW Origin side.
Still only 31, Tupou will be eligible for the $200,000 long-serving player allowance at the Roosters, with fellow veteran Jared Waerea-Hargreaves expected to head to the Super League at the end of the season.
Tupou is highly regarded at the Roosters and has been a mentor for Suaali’i. Coach Trent Robinson said of his softly-spoken giant on the eve of Origin II last year: “Toops is one of the all-time greats of our club … we shout [his praises] from the rooftops within our club, but it doesn’t gain that much traction outside the club.”
Suaali’i has already caught the eye of overseas clubs and cashed-up rugby franchises. Tupou’s manager, Sam Ayoub, said his client was happy to play the waiting game, and would have no shortage of suitors should his time in the red, white and blue come to an end.
Aerial threats: Daniel Tupou, Dominic Young, Joseph Suaali’i and Joey Manu.Credit:Getty
“When I say options for Daniel, I mean in the NRL, Super League or Japanese rugby because we have had previous discussions with all of them,” Ayoub said.
Tupou only needs seven tries to surpass Anthony Minichiello’s club record of 139. Should he play at least 20 games this season, and move to 243 games, he will leapfrog Mitchell Pearce (238), Kevin Hastings (232), Craig Fitzgibbon (228) and Shaun Kenny-Dowall (224) to be the sixth most capped Rooster.
Young informed his current club the Knights, as well as the Dolphins and Titans, late Monday of his plans to take up an offer with the Roosters for 2024. He was sold the Roosters’ vision during dinner at Robinson’s home at the start of this month, with billionaire chairman Nick Politis also in attendance.
To put the potential towering backline into perspective, the Roosters quartet would stand a combined 44cm taller than Penrith’s likely line-up of Brian To’o (182cm), Izack Tago (184cm), Stephen Crichton (193cm) and Sunia Turuva (181cm).
Meanwhile, prop Matt Lodge said he was always prepared to settle for a modest deal this year after the Roosters threw him a lifeline midway through last season. Lodge inked a one-year contract, but does not want to leave.
“It’s the best club I’ve been at, it’s been a long time since I’ve learned so much about footy, and I feel like they’re teaching me how to win again, which makes it stimulating coming to training every day,” Lodge said.
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