Martin Taupau joins Brisbane Broncos for the NRL 2023 season

Former Manly and Samoan prop Martin Taupau has joined the Brisbane Broncos with immediate effect for the 2023 NRL season. Rumours began to circulate Friday following Taupau reportedly touring the Broncos facilities at Red Hill.

Taupau will join a Broncos forward pack filled with rep stars such as Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan, Thomas Flegler and Kurt Capewell.

Broncos head coach Kevin Walters said “We have a lot of good young middle forwards here at the Broncos and we believe the experience that Marty brings will help them grow and be better players for us as well”.

It’s expected Taupau will play a key role in the Broncos forward rotations specifically during the State of Origin period when Haas, Carrigan, Flegler and Capewell are expected to be missing from the Broncos line up. Taupau will join the likes of Corey Jensen, Kobe Hetherington, and Keenan Palasia in the middle.

Taupau brings a wealth of experience to the Broncos pack having over ten years’ experience in the NRL between the Bulldogs, Wests Tigers, and Se Eagles. Taupau has also gained a wealth of representative experience for New Zealand, Samoa and the World All Stars in 2016.

The Broncos and Taupau alike will be hoping the front rower’s off field issues are left behind in Sydney.

During the 2022 NRL season, Taupau was at the topic of trade discussions when multiple requests were made to the Sea Eagles for his transfer to the Parramatta Eels. Taupau was also the centre of a Tik Tok controversy with a video going viral showing he did not receive the ball for 20 minutes.

Taupau had also been the centre of rumours that he was the target of up to eight clubs in the NRL, including the Eels and South Sydney Rabbitohs, and clubs in the English Super League.

Taupau’s deal comes at an interesting time for the 32 year old with the contract of Haas at the Broncos expires at the end of the 2024 season. Should Taupau impress in the 2023 season, and the Broncos find the right price for him, Taupau could sign one last deal that could see him past the 2024 season and into retirement.

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