The Tongan Thor Set To Become Australia's Million Dollar Prop

The Tongan Thor Set To Become Australia's Million Dollar Prop

Wallabies and Queensland Reds' prop The 'Tongan Thor' Taniela Tupou is in talks with Rugby Australia, are reportedly offering the front ranker a long-term deal that will make him the highest-paid prop in Australian history.

Australia are bracing themselves for the biggest post-World Cup player exodus, with the likes of Will Genia, Quade Cooper, David Pocock, Christian Leali'iano, Bernard Foley and Samu Kerevi all set to leave the country along with a number of other stars.

Tupou looks set to benefit from the exodus as sources have told the Sydney Morning Herald that Rugby Australia has tabled a three-year extension offer on Tupou's current deal that will keep him Wallaby gold until the next World Rugby World Cup in France in 2023.

Scaling up from $800,000-odd to $1 million ($1,048,420 NZD) a season - a similar offer to the one rejected by Japan-bound centre Samu Kerevi earlier this year - the deal would make Tupou Australia's highest-paid prop and in the top five highest paid rugby players in the country at 23.

 


It would also secure the future of the Australian front row, with Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa also locked in through 2023 and Brumbies loosehead Scott Sio signed until the end of 2022.

 


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