The Sydney Roosters have continued to strengthen their roster, announcing the signing of Manly Sea Eagles outside back Tommy Talau for the 2026 NRL season on a one year deal.
Talau joins the Tricolours with immediate effect ahead of the 2026 campaign, adding experience and versatility to one of the competition’s most competitive backlines.
Roosters Head of Recruitment Joel Carbone described the signing as an important piece of the club’s squad-building plans moving forward.
“Tommy’s signature adds valuable depth and experience to our backline,” Carbone explained.
“He’s a strong competitor who has shown he can perform consistently at NRL level, and we believe he’ll complement the talent we already have within our squad,” Carbone added.
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Talau brings 83 games of NRL experience to Bondi, having made his first-grade debut in 2019 and spending the bulk of his career at the Wests Tigers before moving to Manly.
Across his NRL career, the powerful outside back has built a reputation as a tough, direct runner with strong finishing ability, regularly finding the try line when given opportunities in space.
Talau has primarily featured in the centres but has also shown he can handle wing duties, giving the Roosters valuable flexibility when managing injuries or reshaping their backline on a weekly basis.
His arrival comes as the Roosters continue to balance elite top-end talent with reliable depth, ensuring strong internal competition for positions across the park.
The 26-year-old has enjoyed stretches of strong form throughout his career, including several seasons where he averaged close to a try every three games despite playing in struggling sides.
Talau will join former Sea Eagles teammates Daly Cherry-Evans and Reuben Garrick in making the move east, although Garrick will not begin his Roosters career until the 2027 season.
The move represents a fresh opportunity for Talau to take his game to another level within a high-performance environment as the Roosters position themselves to contend for a premiership in 2026.