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Roosters great lifts lid on World Cup availability for Tonga amid finals injury cloud
George Clarke, AAP • September 10th, 2026 7:27 am
Daniel Tupou | Photo: AAP
Daniel Tupou's hopes of finishing his 15th year in the NRL with a premiership and lifting the Rugby League World Cup with Tonga hinge on his ability to manage a shoulder issue that has threatened to ruin his season.
As he revealed he was nearing a decision on whether he would play on with the Sydney Roosters next year, Tupou spoke of the gruelling rehabilitation process he has undergone to return to fitness for Sunday's qualifying final against Penrith.
The winger suffered a shoulder dislocation in a game against Newcastle in late July and opted against going under the knife in a bid to help the Roosters push towards their first premiership since 2019.
"If it does happen again then I have to go for surgery," Tupou told AAP.
"At the moment it's feeling great … it was painful when it was just hanging out and my physio had to pop it back in.
"We had a baby this year so she (my wife) was a bit off with me that I wasn't able to help out, but she understands."
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A recurrence of the injury in the NRL finals series would also deny Tupou the chance to sign off from his international career with a trophy.
The 35-year-old is Tonga's record tryscorer and has been a mainstay of the group that led the nation's giant strides when they reached the semi-finals of the 2017 World Cup.
"Surgery would probably put me out for the World Cup," he said.
"Nobody would have thought we'd do something like that (in 2017) and create something special for our little nation.
"It's awesome and something that I'll always be grateful to have been a part of.
"The opportunity to play at the World Cup will be an awesome experience but I'm not looking too far ahead."
Tupou is without a contract beyond this year but he and the Roosters have taken a relaxed approach to his future.
The winger, who is one of Trent Robinson's most-trusted performers, and the club's record tryscorer said: "I'm sorting that out with my manager.
"I've got to catch up with him in the next couple of days and sort it out by the end of the week.
"There's a couple of options there but it's about whatever fits best for myself and my family."
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