Buyer be wowed as Manly's bargain rookie goes from zero to hero
Date September 16, 2012
IT IS the $0 contract that looms as Manly's secret weapon to becoming the first team since 1993 to defend their premiership title.
Following the departures of grand final winners William Hopoate and Michael Robertson at the end of last season some predicted Manly could struggle out wide but an unwanted rookie has stepped in to fill the void.
Not rated by his junior club Parramatta and with no other NRL side knocking on his door, Jorge Taufua joined the Sea Eagles last year for literally nothing as he chased his rugby league dream.
Taufua was the man of the match in Manly's controversial win against North Queensland on Friday night, scoring a try and setting up another in the 22-12 triumph.
Advertisement
While his performance usurped that of Cowboys ace Johnathan Thurston - the player many expect to become rugby league's first million-dollar man - Taufua signed for only $30,000 this season.
His manager, John Frare, revealed Taufua has become one of the best bargain buys in recent seasons.
"He didn't earn a cent last year from football," Frare said. "It was more of an opportunity and getting him over to Manly. He played fullback for the bulk of the season in the under-20s."
His impressive performances for the youth team led to him being awarded a bargain basement contract extension this year plus a $3000 per NRL game bonus.
Barring injury, Taufua stands to earn almost $70,000 if Manly reach the grand final.
"He was playing at Parramatta but they didn't think he was good enough to play in their under-20s team and wanted him to play in the back row which he didn't want to do," Frare said.
"[Manly assistant coach] David Penna saw him and liked him and he has done a lot of work on him."
Taufua inked a two-year deal worth double his current contract earlier this year.
Frare said at the time there was little interest in the 20-year-old but in recent weeks he had been inundated with rival clubs inquiring about Taufua's contract status.
Taufua ran for 268 metres on Friday night with North Queensland representative prop James Tamou (226m) the only other player to crack the 200-metre mark.
"When he set up that try for Brett Stewart it was one of the first times I've seen him smile on the football field," Frare said.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/buyer-be-wowed-as-manlys-bargain-rookie-goes-from-zero-to-hero-20120915-25yys.html#ixzz26ZzWTf2s