Taupau eyes new Broncos deal as old club Manly await

Joel Gould | May 2, 2023

Brisbane prop Martin Taupau was unemployed at the start of the year but now he is looking to extend his contract at the Broncos after an outstanding start to the season.

The 33-year-old goes into Friday night’s Suncorp Stadium clash against his former club Manly in strong form, having come off the bench to add punch to the Broncos forward rotation in Brisbane’s climb to the top of the NRL ladder.

Taupau said retirement was never on his mind, despite being without a deal when his contract with the Sea Eagles ended in 2022 after seven seasons at the club.

He was close to joining Parramatta in January but a flying visit to Broncos HQ convinced him to move to Queensland on a one-year deal.

“Me and my family are enjoying our time here and hopefully we get to prolong that,” Taupau said.

“That is the long-term goal for me but … it is a performance-based industry. You’ve got to play some great football, and at the end hopefully get rewarded.

“Retirement has never been in any of my thought processes.

“I’ve invested so much time and money into getting my body ready physically, mentally and spiritually. I’ve worked with a lot of great people that help me prepare.”

The Broncos have certainly won over the Samoa international, who has also played 24 Tests for New Zealand.

“I was pretty much unemployed for three months at the back-end of last year, so I am very grateful to the Broncs for the opportunity they presented,” he said.

“Every single week I have to repay that by training really hard and performing.

“From the board, CEO, coaching staff right down to the admin … and an amazing playing group … the culture here is just phenomenal. 

“When I walked through the doors I felt like this is my family. This is what I call home.”

The Broncos and Manly lost last week, to South Sydney and Gold Coast respectively, and will be looking to bounce back at Suncorp Stadium.

“They have got some great players and some very scary players as well,” Taupau said of Friday’s opponents. 

“There are a few things I know about the way they play and defend. 

“For us, on the back of our loss against Souths, it is about self-reflection as a team.

“We are going to play the game, not the occasion.”

Prop Payne Haas and No.6 Ezra Mam will return after suspension for Brisbane.

Middle forward Kobe Hetherington limped from the training field on Tuesday but the Broncos have named him in the No.22 jersey, with Keenan Palasia listed to come off the bench.