Contract talks for Manly lock after fractured rib pain
Scott Bailey |
Manly have opened talks to re-sign off-contract duo Siosiua Taukeiaho and Jazz Tevaga, with the latter revealing he has played the past month with a fractured rib.
Taukeiaho and Tevaga both landed at the Sea Eagles on one-year deals over the summer, and are both likely to earn one-year extensions.
The Sea Eagles are on something of a re-signing spree at the moment, with fellow forward Ethan Bullemor closing in on a four-year extension at the club.
Manly have also moved to begin talks with Tom and Jake Trbojevic, who are off contract at the end of 2026 and free agents from November 1 this year.
Talks are also ongoing with young winger Clayton Faulalo, while Manly are keen to keep fellow off-contract outside back Tommy Talau.
“We’ve started discussions with Jazz and Siua,” Manly CEO Tony Mestrov told AAP.
“Siua came for a year, had a few injuries, but his leg speed has been great, and Jazz is a tough bugger.
“Siua and Jazz have probably been two of our best forwards this year. They’ve added to the culture of what we’re trying to do, being tough and relentless.
“We’ve started discussions, just started with both, with a view to keeping them next year and extending them.”
Taukeiaho’s talks come after Manly offered him a lifeline over the summer, after he failed a medical at Canterbury in 2023 and was released by Catalans last year.
The former Sydney Roosters premiership winner won’t face Newcastle on Thursday because of a calf strain, but has been one of Manly’s most reliable players this year.
Tevaga, meanwhile, took something of a gamble when he knocked back an offer from the Warriors to move to Australia on his one-year deal.
After filling in at dummy-half to start the year, he has been particularly good in his preferred spot of lock in recent weeks with Jake Trbojevic out.
“I put all my eggs in this basket,” Tevaga said.
“I’d prefer to stay. We came over here for an opportunity. I feel like I’ve lived up to the transaction. Hopefully we can get something across the line.
“I’m no Isaah Yeo or anything, but I feel like it’s working well (at lock) and giving me a good balance.”
Tevaga will go back to the bench this week with Trbojevic returning at No.13, having also required needles on a fractured rib suffered in round eight against Penrith.
“I’ve been battling and it doesn’t help when you lose a few players, but It’s getting better,” Tevaga said.
“At first it was a rib cartilage, and then I copped a whack on it, and with the rib cartilage out, it just threw me in a vulnerable position.
“I was going to sit out the Sharks game … If you watch it I just couldn’t wrestle. In the play-the-ball, I couldn’t fight, because it was just in pain, but the jab helps it.”
AAP
