Roosters eye Manly duo as NRL reintroduces loans
The Roosters are considering making an immediate play for Manly hitman Jorge Taufua to alleviate their injury crisis as NRL clubs welcome the return of the league’s loan system.
The return of temporary club swaps emerged as Penrith revealed they will be without five stars for their crunch clash with the Storm on Saturday night. Nathan Cleary (shoulder), Brian To’o (ankle), Isaah Yeo (concussion), James Fisher-Harris (personal reasons) and Tyrone May (knee) are all out. Apisai Koroisau remains suspended for breaching biosecurity protocols while on NSW duty for Origin III.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has opted against rushing Tevita Pangai jnr into the side after securing the former Bronco until the end of the season.
The Roosters are seeking to bolster their back line before the August 1 transfer deadline. Their hit list is headlined by two Manly wingers, Taufua and Tevita Funa, who have been identified as potential fill-ins for the absence of Brett Morris (retired), Joseph Suaalii (foot), Matt Ikuvalu (ankle) and Billy Smith (foot).
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has had to recall Josh Morris and name Adam Keighran in the centres for Thursday’s clash with Parramatta, but requires reinforcements as the finals approach.
Taufua has 163 NRL appearances, including a grand final, and has represented Tonga and Samoa. However, like Funa, the winger has been unable to break into a form Sea Eagles back line. Funa has made 15 first-grade appearances since his debut last year and is another option for Robinson, given he is off-contract at the end of the season.
Several other outside backs at rival clubs have been shortlisted.
Jorge Taufua could be headed to Bondi Junction.Credit:SMH
Cronulla are one of several clubs that have expressed interest in another Manly player, Jack Gosiewski, for both this year and beyond. The Sharks have also toyed with the idea of a player swap between Billy Magoulias and Titans forward Jai Whitbread.
Player movement will now extend to loan arrangements after the system was introduced last year to help clubs navigate issues thrown up by the pandemic. The proposed system will feature only players already inside the NRL bubble, and for clubs hit by an injury crisis in their position.
For example, Penrith have ample winger cover for To’o and can’t call on another player to replace the Blues star. The loaning club can recall their player at any stage, but there is conjecture over whether players can be loaned for two or three weeks at a time. Players cannot play in the NRL finals. Clubs who release players for a few weeks are entitled to cap relief.
The clubs had a second phone hook-up about the loan system on Tuesday evening.
Robinson liked the idea of the re-introduction of the loan system, especially with no lower-grade players to call upon and with any player deals from NSW forced to do two weeks of hard lockdown.
“Usually we’d have the North Sydney Bears, we’d have a full team playing there, we’d have our Jersey Flegg [team], and if we got into a situation we’d be able to call upon any of those players at this time of year,” Robinson said.
“There’s always centres and wingers playing for North Sydney, and we’d choose them if we needed to. But that’s not an option for us here.
“We don’t have anybody outside of the people here in the hub we can call on. It’s very different, and adaptability from the NRL is possibly needed there.”
Robinson confirmed the club was in the market for an outside back.
“We’re having a look at outside backs, we’re not sure if we’ll do anything at the moment, but we only have the one reserve here, a young kid [Moala Graham-Taufa] who has only played a couple of reserve grade games, he’s got a good future but that’s all we’ve got at the moment,” he said.
“We need to make a decision by Monday. We’ll have a look and make sure it’s right for the Roosters.
“If we do go down that path … it will be up to us about how much we can integrate that player into being a Rooster.”
Suaalii’s foot injury was so serious he won’t be ready to return to full training until December.
In other team news, Canterbury halfback Kyle Flanagan has been recalled for the clash against the Titans.
At St George Illawarra, Tyrell Sloan has beaten Matt Dufty to the No.1 jersey, with Corey Norman returning to the halves alongside Jayden Sullivan. Jack de Belin, Jack Bird and Blake Lawrie are the three players serving suspensions this week for their roles in “barbecue-gate”.
Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses remains sidelined due to a back injury for the Roosters encounter, while Jack Wighton and Elliott Whitehead have been named to return for Canberra.
Harry Grant could make his long-awaited return for Melbourne from a hamstring injury after being named on their reserves list, while the Warriors have given Peta Hiku the captaincy in his comeback game after Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was granted an early release.
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