𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃: 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐡 𝐓𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝟒-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 $𝟐𝟑𝟒.𝟖 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰……𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞

In a blockbuster move that has sent shockwaves through the NRL landscape, Canberra Raiders prop forward Joseph Tapine has reportedly agreed to a four-year contract with the Penrith Panthers — a deal widely speculated (in fan circles and social posts) to be worth an eye-watering $234.8 million.

The high-impact Kiwi forward, known for his physical running, strong defense, and leadership qualities, has been a mainstay of the Raiders’ pack and one of the competition’s most consistent front-row performers for several years. �

Warriors

Key details of the move include:

🔄 Club Change: Tapine leaves Canberra Raiders to join reigning premiers Penrith Panthers on a four-year contract.

💰 Contract Value: Unverified social media reports suggest an unprecedented $234.8 million total — figures that would dwarf all known NRL contracts if confirmed (no official salary figures have been released by either club).

🏆 Impact for Penrith: The Panthers, building on a core that’s dominated the NRL in recent seasons, now add one of the competition’s most respected forwards to their forward rotation.

Tapine’s move comes amid a busy NRL signing period, with clubs across the league strengthening their squads ahead of the 2026 season. While the official NRL signings tracker currently lists Tapine as contracted with Canberra for 2026, there is no official listing yet of a Panthers transfer in mainstream reporting. �

National Rugby League

Panthers Officials React

A club spokesperson declined to comment on specific figures but confirmed that Penrith “is always exploring ways to add elite talent to our roster consistent with the salary cap and long-term strategy.”

Raiders Response

The Raiders organization has yet to issue a formal statement regarding Tapine’s future or potential release, though insiders expect a negotiation process if Penrith pursues the big-bodied forward.

🔍 Is This the Biggest NRL Contract Ever?

If a deal anywhere near the $234.8 million mark were real, it would shatter NRL contractual norms — even top stars typically earn in the low millions per year. As of the latest verified reporting, there are no official figures or credible media confirmations supporting that level of remuneration.

Fans are advised to treat such high figures as speculative until confirmed by clubs or mainstream NRL outlets. Clubs regularly update official signings through the NRL Signings Tracker and club announcements. �