Roosters star Sitili Tupouniua set to sign with Canterbury Bulldogs on long-term deal

Sitili Tupouniua will head to the Bulldogs next season on a long-term deal.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports, the gun back-rower has been granted an early release by the Roosters and has opted to take up a multi-year agreement elsewhere.

Tupouniua has agreed to join Canterbury for the next four years, with the recent extension of Angus Crichton at Bondi pushing him out of the club.

The 27-year-old was contracted for another three years with the Tricolours, who are now expected to chip in a portion of his salary when he moves to Belmore.

The news comes just one week after Bulldogs boss Phil Gould denied the club had been in negotiations with Tupouniua, who was clearly on the outer at Bondi.

Once regarded as an elite-level edge forward, Tupouniua has endured a troublesome few years, suffering an ACL rupture in 2022 and serious back injury last season.

The three-time Tongan international has fallen down the pecking order under Trent Robinson this year, spending time in reserve grade due to a surplus of talent.

Tupouniua has scored 27 tries in 95 first grade appearances for the Roosters.

At this stage, neither club has confirmed Tupouniua’s move for the 2025 campaign.