Manly star reveals he wants out of the club IMMEDIATELY just a day after pride jersey match

Sea Eagles enforcer Marty Taupau has requested an immediate release from the club just hours after playing in the team’s pride jersey against the Roosters on Thursday night.

The hulking forward’s management asked Manly for permission to leave the side as soon as possible, reportedly so he can join their rivals Parramatta.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Taupau has been linked to the Eels because they have the salary cap room to make a signing this late in the season, and are keen to add some firepower to their pack after giving Nathan Brown permission to look elsewhere.

The move would also increase his chances of playing finals footy now that the Sea Eagles have slumped to ninth after their loss on Thursday. 

He would also prove valuable to Parramatta because they are losing forwards like Isaiah Papalii and Reed Mahoney at the end of the season. 

The 32-year-old wasn’t among the seven stars who refused to play in the crucial match because the side’s rainbow pride strip went against their religious and cultural beliefs.

The 32-year-old never raised any objections to the side’s inclusive strip but looks to be on the way out of Brookvale after seven years with the club

Speculation that Taupau would end his time at Manly – now in its seventh year – by switching to the Eels first began in 2018, when a photo of him having a meal with a Parramatta staffer surfaced online.

The former Bulldog and Tiger might be coming towards the end of his career but he’s still playing representative footy for Samoa after starring in 24 Tests for New Zealand and making the World All Stars team in 2016.

Famed as one of the strongest players in the NRL, he has recorded a deadlift of 310kg, can bench press 180kg and squats 260kg.