he chance to secure a future for his young family rather than the ongoing dramas at the Wests Tigers was the chief motivator in Martin Taupau’s exit from the NRL club, the Manly recruit claims.
Taupau was engaged in one of the most-bizarre contract stories in rugby league history when his early departure from the Tigers to the Sea Eagles was announced last month by a Canadian theatre critic on Twitter.
The Kiwi international said on Wednesday he found humour in that circumstance, after his contract was emailed to the wrong address, adding the reason behind his move wasn’t the uncertainty at Concord.
“My decision was based on my family,” Taupau said.
“I have a very young family, life span in football isn’t long so I took that into account. You have to play your cards smart; at the end of the day, I looked at the bigger picture and you have to look after yourself.
“I had mixed emotions when it happened like that. What happened was funny at the time but, with me being on tour, my main focus was playing for the Kiwis.”
Taupau left the besieged Tigers with one year left on his contract to sign for four years with Manly. The 25-year-old has left behind a club upset by infighting between coach Jason Taylor and former skipper Robbie Farah.
But he claimed the atmosphere at the Tigers wasn’t that bad despite their equal-last placed finish last season.
“Not at all – tabloids these days, you guys do anything to sell papers,” Taupau said.
“But being a part of the Tigers the last few years, they have been professional in every way – the players have stuck together.
“I have so much respect for Robbie Farah, they are a young team but they are very professional.”
“Putting football aside, JT is a mate. If he needs anything, I am more than happy to help out.”
Taupau returned from New Zealand’s unsuccessful tour of England with new teammate Lewis Brown.
Brown said he wasn’t a contender for the No.9 shirt vacated by Matt Ballin.
Taupau said Manly’s new-look roster would give the competition a shake in 2016.
“I believe in the roster we have and the (Bob) Fulton management,” he said.
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