The Sydney Roosters have made an unexpected decision regarding one of their forwards for the upcoming season, influenced by their surplus of forward players in the second row.
Despite David Fifita reconsidering and opting to stay with the Gold Coast Titans instead of joining the Roosters, Sitili Tupouniua, Siua Wong, Nat Butcher, Egan Butcher, and Angus Crichton are all vying for positions in the starting lineup or on the interchange bench.
Reports from News Corp suggest that this competition for spots has led the Roosters to allow Tupouniua to explore opportunities with other clubs, indicating he can leave at the season’s end. This development is surprising given that he is under contract until 2027, with a reported annual salary of $650,000.
Although Tupouniua has been given permission to depart, there’s uncertainty regarding whether he will indeed leave the club. Despite starting the season as a second-rower, Tupouniua has spent recent weeks in the NSW Cup due to a concussion suffered in Round 5 against the Canterbury Bulldogs, featuring in just two NRL games off the bench since then.
A three-time Tongan international, Tupouniua has played 92 first-grade games since debuting in 2018 and signed a three-year contract extension with the Roosters at the end of the previous season.
Tupouniua expressed his commitment to the Roosters upon re-signing, stating, “This Club has become a second family to me so I’m really happy to continue my journey with the Roosters,” adding, “I’m committed to giving my all for this Club and I’m excited to contribute to the team’s success in the coming years.”
