Big call for Roosters star after joining 300-game club
Scott Bailey |
Daniel Tupou will turn his attention to deciding his NRL future after ticking off the 300-game milestone with a record-breaking performance for the Sydney Roosters.
Tupou was honoured by Tongan royalty on Saturday night with Prime Minister Lord Fatafehi Fakafanua and Princess Latufuipeka Tuku’aho in attendance, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in their 300th game during the win over Parramatta.
The 35-year-old remains off contract at the end of this season, and is yet to decide whether he wants to play on into 2027.
If he does so he will almost certainly become the highest-capped Rooster of all time, surpassing Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (310).
He is also closing on becoming just the third NRL player ever to post 200 tries. He is now on 194.
Tupou had indicated in April he wanted to play on next year, but said after Saturday night’s game he was only now ready to give it serious thought after a calf injury delayed his 300-game milestone.
“That’s a question mark at the moment,” Tupou said about 2027.
“It was just my goal was to get to 300 and now we’re here, now I can sort of catch up with my manager and go from there.”
Tupou has no interest in signing for another club, and the Roosters would not hesitate to extend the flyer if he does opt to go on.
“It’s his choice,” coach Trent Robinson said.
“He holds such a high standard, and he gets choice because of the level that he plays at.
“Toops will know when it’s time, but he’s got an incredible ability about not looking backwards or forwards too far, and he gets about his work.
“I don’t think there’ll be any grand announcements any time soon.”
One thing that isn’t in question is Tupou’s ability to deliver into his mid-30s.
The Tongan international has scored tries in more games than any other player in premiership history, while his run yardage has stayed consistent year on year.
“Toops looks as young now as he did five, eight years ago,” Robinson said.
“There’s something about the way (300-gamers) prepare, the way they live their life, what they eat, the way they recover, that keeps them really, really fresh.
“We don’t supply that. We supply 50 per cent of that. They have to supply the other bits.
“There’s something about those players that is different, that is private to them, because it’s the work in the shadows that gets them there.”
Tupou said that was not something he had found hard throughout his career, but admitted it would not last forever.
“It’s just a good routine, and to be disciplined at it, it’s just second nature now,” he said.
“I’m just doing all the one-percenters and not cheating it. It’s what’s got me here.
“I’ve been doing it for this long. I’m not tired of it yet, but there will be a time when that will come. So I’m just taking it one day at a time.”
AAP