In a wave of speculation swirling around the potential signing of Roosters forward Sitili Tupouniua by the Bulldogs, Coach Cameron Ciraldo has decisively addressed the rumors, clarifying the situation and setting the record straight.
Recent reports suggested that Tupouniua had a meeting with Ciraldo on Monday morning, hinting at a possible move to the Bulldogs. However, this claim was quickly debunked by Bulldogs’ general manager Phil Gould on the show *100% Footy* later that night.
“We spoke to him tentatively probably six weeks ago,” Gould revealed. “At the time, the Roosters were wanting to sign David Fifita. That fell through, and they had given him permission to look around, thinking they’d need to free up some space. Now, they’re trying to sign Angus Crichton. Any terms of Tupouniua looking around are conditional on re-signing Angus Crichton, so there’s no official release for Sitili Tupouniua. If he was to get the opportunity to be released and look elsewhere, I’m sure there’d be plenty of clubs looking for him.”
Despite the Bulldogs having space in their salary cap for potential big signings, Ciraldo confirmed that Tupouniua remains committed to his contract with the Roosters until 2027. “As Gus said, we met him a while back, but as far as I know, he hasn’t got permission to leave the Roosters,” Ciraldo stated.
“We’ve got a bit of space there (in the cap), and we’re always in the market for quality players and good people. At the moment, we’re really concentrating on who we’ve got here and making sure they’re developing as players. Our guys are coming in every day to get better, and they’re doing a great job of it. We’re really enjoying that journey at the moment.”
The Bulldogs’ recruitment efforts last season have paid off, with the team currently sitting in sixth place ahead of their upcoming clash with the Sharks. One notable signing, former Shark Connor Tracey, will miss the match due to concussion protocols after a high tackle from Roosters center Junior Pauga last week.
Ciraldo praised Tracey’s resilience, stating, “He’s all right; he’s bounced back. He’s been really good this week. He’s got a lot of knowledge about the Sharks and the way that they play. As much as he can’t be out there with the boys, he’s helping with our preparation, so he’s been really good.”
In addition to Tracey’s absence, Jacob Preston’s return from a foot injury is still uncertain, rated a “50-50” chance, while the decision on Stephen Crichton’s participation will depend on his recovery from Wednesday night’s Origin win.
Tracey’s injury paves the way for Blake Taaffe to reclaim the fullback position. Ciraldo expressed confidence in Taaffe’s readiness, saying, “Blake’s had a bit of a run earlier in the year but had to come back through reserve grade because of Connor’s form. We just want to see Blake go out and play his natural game, get his hands on the ball, and do what he’s really good at.”
As the Bulldogs gear up for Friday’s showdown with the Sharks, the focus remains on their current roster and their journey of development, despite the ongoing speculation and potential signings.