Canterbury Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould has put to bed rumours Sitili Tupouniua is set to leave the Roosters and sign with his club.
Fox Sports reported the Tricolours second-rower had met with Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo on Monday and would join from 2025.
However, Gould and 9news Sydney and Sydney Morning Herald reporter Michael Chammas disputed that claim.
READ MORE: Racing legend in ICU after ‘catastrophic’ 500km/h crash
READ MORE: Maroons star bites back at Joey’s Latrell claim
READ MORE: Harsh reality as $800k star weighs Tigers future
“From my understanding there was no meeting with Cameron Ciraldo today, he did meet with Cameron about a month ago when the Roosters gave him permission to look around,” Chammas said on 100% Footy.
“There’s no offer on the table from the Bulldogs – the Dolphins and Manly are interested in Sitili Tupouniua, they have expressed interest but that all hinges on what happens around Angus Crichton.”
Gould backed up those comments, asserting “there’s no offer from the Bulldogs at the moment”.
“We spoke to him tentatively probably six weeks ago. At the time the Roosters were wanting to sign David Fifita, that fell through and at that time they’d given him permission to have a look around thinking they’d need to free up some space,” he said.
100% Footy is now available as a podcast! Subscribe/follow via Apple, Spotify or Google Podcasts
“They’re now trying to sign Angus Crichton. I think any terms of Tupouniua looking around is conditional on re-signing Angus Crichton so there’s no official release there for Sitili Tupouniua.
“If he was to get the opportunity to be released and look elsewhere I’m sure there’d be plenty of clubs looking for him.”
Watch the 2024 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Gould added the Roosters’ salary cap is supposedly tight with Tupouniua currently contract until the end of 2027.
The Bulldogs GM added there’s a possibility Crichton’s new deal could be announced this week after Origin II.