Sea Eagles sign Tuipulotu and Saab

Author: seaeagles.com.au
Timestamp: Fri 27 Nov 2020, 08:37 AM

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles has added real backline speed for next season after securing two of the best young wingers in the NRL.

The Sea Eagles have signed Christian Tuipulotu on a four-year deal and have followed it up with the signature of Jason Saab for three years. Both players become part of Manly’s top 30 squad for the 2021 season.

After securing a release from the final year of his contract with the Sydney Roosters, Tuipulotu commenced pre-season training with the Sea Eagles this week.

Saab will pull on the maroon and white colours for the first time next week at Manly training after being granted a release from the final two years of his contract with St George-Illawarra Dragons.

Sea Eagles Coach Des Hasler was delighted to secure the services of both young men.

“Christian is a very talented young player. We are looking forward to further developing his game here at Manly,’’ Hasler said.

“He is very athletic and will certainly bring added depth and competition for spots within the squad.”

“Jason is a young, promising player. He has all the attributes to be a successful, consistent NRL player.”

Tuipulotu scored a try in his NRL debut for the Roosters against the Melbourne Storm at the Sydney Cricket Ground in August this year.

A tall, athletic back with great footwork who can play centre and wing, 19-year-old Tuipulotu was part of the Warriors system from a young age and at 16, was chased by NRL and Super Rugby Clubs.

A former student at renowned New Zealand rugby league school St Paul’s College, Auckland. Tuipulotu also captained the New Zealand U16s rugby league team in 2017. He won the New Zealand Rugby League U16s Player of the Year award in 2017 and represented the NZ Resident’s U18s team, and the Junior Kiwis U19s team.

Saab, 20, is a player with brilliant speed who uses his 199cm height to pull off some dynamic aerial skills.

He has scored four tries in seven games after making his NRL debut for St George-Illawarra Dragons in round 19 of the 2019 season. Two of those tries came in his NRL debut against Souths.

A product of Westfields Sports High in Sydney’s west, Saab played SG Ball for the Dragons in 2017 and also represented the NSW U18s and U20s teams, as well as the Australian Schoolboys.