Roosters prepare to get the party started for trailblazer Toops

Sydney Roosters have waited eight weeks to break out the bubbly to celebrate the club’s top tryscorer, Daniel Tupou, in his 300th NRL game – and the day has finally arrived. 

The 35-year-old now in his 15th season at the one club has been stranded on 299 since early May after injuring his left calf at Magic Round eight weeks ago. 

But all he needs now is to pass a final fitness test later this week and he will be running out at his beloved Allianz Stadium to play Parramatta on Saturday night.

“For someone play 300 games in the NRL is a pretty crazy achievement but to do it at one club and to do it the way Toops has… you can’t say enough words about it,” said Roosters centre Billy Smith. 

“Whenever you pull the jersey on every week and look across and see Toops you’re always pretty confident in the result. 

“You don’t get to play 300 games unless you’re a really hard-working, consistent human being. 

He’s paved the way for the Polynesian footy players and playing with him has been one of the best privileges of my career

Billy Smith

It is also a timely comeback to the Roosters squad as they wrestle with the Knights and Dolphins to stay in the top four. 

“At this time of year we want to consolidate our position in the top four but more importantly get our footy on,” Smith said.

“We’ve had all our byes now so it’s about getting all the boys back and refreshed from Origin and attacking the back end of the year.” 

Tupou’s return also comes on ‘Roosters Forever’ day, aka Old Boys' day, with the players wearing the 1976 strip used in the World Club Challenge win over St Helens, which was the first to carry the sponsor’s name (then City Ford) on the front – a trait other clubs soon picked up. 

For Connor Watson, it will be his last Old Boys' day as he moves to the Dragons for the 2027 season before becoming a foundation player for the PNG Chiefs in 2028. 

“Working with these good people for the last time over the next three months is making me fairly nostalgic,” Watson said.  

“I’ve got plenty of jerseys home in storage and when I’m finished in the game I’ll get them out and tell the kids all the stories of my Roosters days.” 

Near the top of that list will be his time with Tupou. 

“I’ve been very luck to play with Toops for a long time... back to when I debuted in 2016," he said.

“He’s just so consistent but he does it at such a high level. He worked out what his strengths were really early in his career and has just done it on repeat every game since. 

“He’ll go down as one of the greatest Roosters ever. It’s been an honour to play with him. 

“We can talk about his tryscoring, but whenever the game gets tough he’s always the first to put his hand up to get us out of yardage. 

“What he’s done has really changed the game for wingers about the work they do in the backfield.”