Manly fan favourite Jazz Tevaga off to Super League after knocking back new contract to stay
AAP understands that Tevaga has signed a two-year deal with Trinity, after knocking back the option to stay with the Sea Eagles.
Picked up from the Warriors at the end of last year, Tevaga has proven a good purchase for the Sea Eagles while filling in at hooker and impressing at lock.
He has played his best football in the past two months, wearing the No.13 jersey while Jake Trbojevic had two spells out with concussion.
That form came despite the 29-year-old revealing to AAP this month he had been playing through the pain of a fractured rib.
The Sea Eagles had recently opened talks with Tevaga around a one-year extension to stay at the club beyond the end of this season.
Manly officials believed the former Warrior brought with him a toughness to the club's pack and culture, and had been keen to keep him at Brookvale.
But it's understood Trinity were able to offer more money than the Sea Eagles, while also handing Tevaga the security of a two-year deal.
Tevaga will start at hooker for Manly on Friday night, after the club's long-term No.9 Lachlan Croker was dropped to reserve grade.
'(I prefer) 13, but I have no qualms with starting the game at No.9 and taking the brunt out of the game for whoever is on the bench to come on,' Tevaga told reporters this week.
'When I play No.9, I have to save a bit in the tank because you have to follow the ball around, make right decisions and your passing accuracy has to be on point.
'When I am at lock I can take a spell here and there and invest more energy in my defence.'
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