- Siosiua Taukeiaho has earnt a NRL contract with Manly
- Sacked by Catalans Dragons after attending music concert
- Club said Taukeiaho’s conduct was ‘highly unacceptable’
Manly recruit Siosiua Taukeiaho admits he feared his rugby league career was over after being axed by Catalans for skipping training to go to a music concert.
Left in limbo after his London jaunt last July, Taukeiaho’s turnaround will be complete when he starts for Manly against North Queensland next Saturday night at Brookvale Oval.
Taukeiaho, 33, conceded he struggled in the Super League, as he and his wife went from having two children to four while away from extended family.
A move back to the NRL was first denied at the end of 2023, when he failed a medical at Canterbury while battling a fracture in his foot.
The injury ruled the forward out for the start of 2024, before Taukeiaho was among three players sacked for calling in sick for training to attend a pop concert in England.
At the time, Catalans Dragons viewed the incident as ‘highly unacceptable’ and ‘contrary to the club’s values.’
Manly recruit Siosiua Taukeiaho feared his rugby league career was over after being axed by Catalans for skipping training to go to a concert last July
The Tongan international was handed a lifeline by the Sea Eagles – and now is keen to repay the faith they showed in him (pictured, with his son on Sydney’s northern beaches)
The other Catalans players who had their contracts ripped up were Jayden Nikorima and Damel Diakhate.
Taukeiaho soon returned to Australia, at that point assuming his footy career was likely over.
‘At the time when it happened, I was going through a lot. It was a bit of an embarrassment for myself and my family,’ Taukeiaho said.
‘It’s hard because at that age I was trying to come back to the NRL and I was thinking teams won’t even look at me because of that incident.
‘I never thought I would be able to come back.’
A two-time premiership-winner with the Sydney Roosters, Taukeiaho was handed a train-and-trial deal by Manly last November and vowed to show coach Anthony Seibold he was committed.
‘It was about coming in and trying to build trust because of what happened in the south of France,’ Taukeiaho said.
‘I wanted to show that’s not really me. ‘That was pretty much the only incident I have been in trouble with since I started playing in the NRL.
A two-time premiership-winner with the Sydney Roosters, Taukeiaho will provide some grunt in the Manly engine room (pictured, with former Tricolours teammate Angus Crichton)
‘Obviously I sat down with Seibs and had a good chat with him. And they accepted it, and were happy for me to come here and start fresh.’
Taukeiaho said he has had no issues with his foot since removing the screws last year.
His rise to Manly’s pack also follows the path of former State of Origin forward Nathan Brown, who arrived on a train-and-trial deal in late 2023.
Brown played 22 games for the Sea Eagles last season as a hard-running prop, earning him a contract until 2026.
‘I like to give players a second chance, but they also need to take it,’ Seibold said.
‘And Siosiua has taken that. He will start for us in the first game.
‘He has earned that through his performances at training. He has twice won our trainer of the week.
‘He is a winner and he has been great with our younger boys.’
Meanwhile Manly confirmed a new deal for winger Lehi Hopoate on Friday, elevating him into the top squad after a superb 2024 and ensuring he will stay at the club until 2027.
