The Wallabies have ramped up the pursuit of the NRL’s greatest expertise with Manly younger gun Tolutau Koula the newest rugby league participant focused as a part of the Eddie Jones revolution.
Fox League has been informed Rugby Australia will throw as much as $800,000-a-season on the Sea Eagles centre placing the warmth squarely on Manly to try to retain Koula past 2024.
Like Roosters teen Joseph Suaali’i and South Sydney captain Cameron Murray, Koula has a rugby union pedigree having attended Newington College and performed Australian Schoolboys rugby.
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Lightning quick and agile on his ft, Koula was one of many standouts for the Sea Eagles because the membership claimed the $100,000 winners prize for the NRL’s Pre Season Challenge.
The problem for Manly will probably be attempting to compete with the Rugby Australia cheque ebook with new Wallabies coach Jones overtly declaring his intent to focus on among the NRL’s prime expertise who may transition to the 15-a-side code.
Koula, Suaali’i, Murray and Melbourne Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona have all been recognized as gun NRL stars who additionally share a rugby union background.
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Koula, 20, bagged six tries in 20 video games in his debut season within the NRL final yr together with a double in opposition to the Melbourne Storm at 4 Pines Park.
The Sea Eagles maintain the left centre in excessive regard with the rookie flyer awarded the Ken Arthurson Rising Star Award at Manly’s end-of-season presentation evening.
Currently enjoying within the centres for the Sea Eagles, Koula is equally as snug enjoying fullback or on the wing and nonetheless holds the GPS excessive faculties report for the quickest 100m.
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Aside from the lure of a British and Irish Lions tour in 2025, Rugby Australia can also be utilizing the World Cup on house soil in 2027 as a promoting level to among the NRL’s prime expertise.
With Suaali’i nonetheless to resolve whether or not he stays on the Sydney Roosters for one more 12 months, the Wallabies have as an alternative opened the cheque ebook for Koula with a view to attempting to land the Sea Eagles centre for the 2025 season.
The different benefit rugby union is utilizing on the negotiating desk is the opportunity of gamers having a cameo in Japanese rugby ala Sonny Bill Williams the place they’ll make huge cash for taking part in for a three-month window.
Source: www.foxsports.com.au