The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have reneged on their deal to sign Sio Siua Taukeiaho after the Sydney Roosters premiership player failed a medical.
Taukeiaho was a member of the Roosters’ 2018 and 2019 Grand Final winning teams before leaving to join the Catalans Dragons in the Super League at the end of the 2022 season. The 31-year-old only managed seven games for Catalans due to recurring injuries.
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio revealed that Taukeiaho’s medical exam with the Bulldogs found a severe foot injury that requires immediate surgery which forced the Bulldogs to pull their offer.
“It’s over. The gamble around how much footy he would’ve been able to play has come up in the medical,” Riccio said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“It’s enough for the Bulldogs to pull the pin on the deal.
“Within the Bulldogs camp, they’ll be hurting.
“I say this from an experience and leadership point of view because that is an area of concern for the Bulldogs.
“They don’t have proven leaders in their team and that was the purpose of signing Taukeiaho. They wanted a guy who has been there and done it before.
“They need someone to lead the developing forwards at the Bulldogs and show them the way.
“His deal was all about what he could bring Monday to Friday rather than what he could bring on the weekend.
“That’s where they are at as a footy club. They want leaders in the training program that can show these younger players the way.
“I expect Canterbury to move forward ASAP to find a replacement.”
The Bulldogs were one of the major disappointments in 2023 as they arguably went backwards as a side despite signing in-demand rookie coach Cameron Ciraldo as well as Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney.
Canterbury have once again signed a number of quality players for the 2024 season and Riccio has demanded the Bulldogs move marquee playmaker Matt Burton to the centres in order to get the most out of their stunted attack.
“The Bulldogs have an electric backline when you consider putting Matt Burton and Stephen Cricohton in the centres,” Riccio argued.
“The Bulldogs now have halves options with Drew Hutchsion, Kurt Mann, Blake Taaffe and Toby Sexton who is already there.
“I think there will be enough options away from last season where it was thin in the halves.
“Matt Burton was required to play five-eighth because that was their key point of attack and they didn’t really have any other options.
“He may eventuate into a good five-eighth.”
The Bulldogs will play the Parramatta Eels in Round 1 of the 2024 season at CommBank Stadium on March 9.