Tupouniua joins Bulldogs long-term with Roosters to chip in on pay

Sitili Tupouniua has agreed to join Canterbury for the next four seasons after the Sydney Roosters cordially pushed the 27-year-old out amidst major moves to retain Angus Crichton in the second row.

The now-Bulldog actually had three more years to run on his Bondi deal, with The Sporting Base having heard the Roosters will chip in on his pay for 2025 through to 2027.

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Since debuting in 2018, the New Zealand international has played 95 games for the tricolours and scored 27 tries. The Bulldogs will be just his second NRL club in eight years after originally coming through the Roosters juniors program in the Holden Cup. He actually opened his tryscoring account against the Bulldogs in 2019.

The main reason the Roosters looked at Crichton (and before that David Fifita, who left them standing at the aisle) over Tupouniua was the 27-year-old’s lengthy battles with injury. He was ruled out with an ACL rupture in 2022 then missed much of last year with a back problem.

Hilariously, other Channel Nine panellists suggested this move would be happening on 100% Footy last night and club boss Gus Gould could only laugh before declaring, “He’s a very good player.”

The Bulldogs head honcho later confirmed an announcement is coming today.

“It wasn’t done until this morning,” the NRL personality admitted after some back and forth. “He was permitted to look around some time ago. I guess the Roosters were looking at their roster, salary cap and everything that was going on. I think he’s still got the best part of his football in front of him and he’s a great acquisition for our club.”

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Gould then added: “Everyone at our club’s done a really good job this season… it’s another addition to bolster the strength and depth of our forward pack. We’re excited to have him.”