He arrived as a teenager from Parramatta’s youth ranks. He leaves as the greatest try-scorer in Sydney Roosters history. This is his story.
There are players who play for the Sydney Roosters. And then there are players who become the Sydney Roosters. In a club with a history stretching back over a century — a club that has produced legends, internationals, and premiership champions by the dozen — Daniel Tupou occupies a place that no statistic can fully capture and no highlight reel can fully honour.
Now 35, and off-contract at season’s end, Tupou has indicated that 2026 will almost certainly be his final year in the NRL, with a move to Super League beckoning when the curtain falls on what has been one of the most remarkable careers this competition has ever seen. Before that day arrives, this is the story of a man, a wing, and a legacy that will outlast every record he has set.
The Records That Tell Only Half the Story
Let us start with the numbers, because even the cold hard facts are extraordinary. Daniel Tupou is the all-time leading try-scorer in Sydney Roosters history — a club record that once seemed untouchable but that he surpassed and then left far behind. He became the first Rooster to score 150 tries, reaching the milestone in Round 11 of the 2024 season — the same game in which he played his 250th match for the club.
When his career concludes, Tupou will likely finish as the third-highest try-scorer in NRL history, behind only Alex Johnston and Ken Irvine. He needs just a handful more to surpass Billy Slater’s tally of 190. These are numbers that belong in the same sentence as the greatest finishers the game has ever produced.
“He became the first Rooster to score 150 tries. He will finish as the greatest try-scorer in this club’s history. Numbers like that do not need embellishment.”
A Career Written in Four-Pointers
From a teenager released by the Parramatta Eels to a three-time premiership winner — Tupou’s journey to the very top of the game was never guaranteed. It was earned, year by year, try by try, tackle by tackle.
Three Premierships. Three Unforgettable Moments.
What sets Tupou apart from every other prolific try-scorer in the game’s history is that his tries have always mattered. Three Grand Finals. Three premierships. Three moments that live forever in Roosters folklore.
In 2013 he leapt above David Williams to score one of the most memorable tries in Grand Final history. In 2018 he opened the scoring against Melbourne. In 2019 his inside pass sent James Tedesco away for the try that sealed the match. Three Grand Finals, three contributions that changed the course of history. That is the measure of a champion.
“Daniel has been the cornerstone of our team for more than a decade now. He is someone we all regard very highly and respect.”
— Trent Robinson, Sydney Roosters Head Coach
Super League Calls — and a Legacy That Will Never Leave Bondi
For years, Super League clubs have circled. The Catalan Dragons came calling before the 2025 season, only for Tupou to recommit to the Roosters — a decision that said everything about the man and his loyalty to the club that gave him everything. Now, with his contract expiring at the end of 2026, the next chapter awaits overseas.
It will be a chapter worth watching. A player of Tupou’s calibre will light up Super League. But for Roosters fans, the emotion of seeing that number 2 jersey run out at Allianz Stadium for the last time will be something that cannot be adequately prepared for.
He is the last surviving player from the 2013 Grand Final team still pulling on the red, white and blue. He has outlasted teammates, coaches and entire eras of the game. He has been there for every high and survived every low. When he finally walks off the NRL stage, he will leave behind a try-scoring record that may never be broken and a legacy that belongs in the very highest tier of players this great club has ever produced.
“When Tupou finally hangs up the boots at the Roosters, every single fan at Allianz Stadium should be on their feet. He has earned every second of that standing ovation.”
