Tiger_Fanatic3
Well-known member
Tino Tavana #305
- Thread starter Demps
- Start date
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
‘Almost kicked out’: The rise of Tigers debutant who wants to ‘secure a better future’ for his family
‘Almost kicked out’: The rise of Tigers debutant who wants to ‘secure a better future’ for his family
www.foxsports.com.au
You would hope there are talks to extend him beyond this year?
He and Turuva could be our long term wingers
Maka and May in centres
Whilst I think Maka is still raw at centre and better on the wing ATM, I think that he will mature a lot in that position if playing inside Turuva
Similarly, May and Tavana would be the complete edge
He and Turuva could be our long term wingers
Maka and May in centres
Whilst I think Maka is still raw at centre and better on the wing ATM, I think that he will mature a lot in that position if playing inside Turuva
Similarly, May and Tavana would be the complete edge
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Tavana is an ideal outside back utility for Benji as he develops - can play wing & fullback at a pinch and I have no doubt he could play centre if given some reps.
Benji said they got approval from the NRL due to injuries to play him.
Skelton made some errors against South's that cost us. He's a good back up. Rather Maraksini and Turuva on wings at this stage.
Hate when teams kick the over end 5th tackle just to tackle them 10m out. All good if your up by 6 with a couple of minutes to go but it is so defensive. Make it so their is a contest or put a torpedo up. I've not iced Cleary, Burton,Fogarty and now Madden and Douhie have been putting up torpedoes and floaters lately. Keep on doing it, the worst thing that happens is that we turn the ball over 15m out.
Tiger_Fanatic3
Well-known member
Phone was blowing up’: Tigers debutant opens up on ‘crazy’ viral moment... and remarkable rise
In the most unlikely of circumstances, Tino Tavana went from never playing rugby league to making his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers within eight years.
It’s the kind of rise that almost feels impossible in the modern game, given that players spend years honing their craft from a young age.
But what makes his journey even more remarkable is that he was nearly sacked by the club during pre-season, months after being rewarded with his maiden NRL train-and-trial contract.
While others around him were finetuning their skills, Tavana came agonisingly close to not being asked back after struggling in the first few weeks of pre-season.
He needed to do some work and it’s a credit to him, because he worked hard on himself, came back, and I thought he had a great pre-season after Christmas.
“(He) trialled really well and just through lack of outside backs, we got a dispensation for him to play.”
Instead of being cut, Tavana was given another chance and he made the most of it.
Starring for the side in their two NRL Pre-Season Challenge matches against the Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers, he found himself called up to make his NRL debut last week in New Zealand.
Speaking to foxsports.com.au before his debut on Friday, in which he scored a try and made 86 running metres, Tavana opened up on his rugby league journey.
“My dad actually came over to find a better lifestyle (and) we moved over altogether the next year and that’s when I picked up footy and just fell in love with it,” Tavana told foxsports.com.au.
“Family is everything and they’ve sacrificed so much. I just want to give back and hopefully me playing and doing what I do can not just provide but secure a better future for my family.
“I only picked up rugby league in 2017 when I first moved over from New Zealand. I grew up playing union but I’ve always just been a sporty kid playing whatever.”
Able to play anywhere in the back-line but predominantly used either on the wing or at fullback, he first arrived at the club in 2021 which saw him play alongside Heath Mason, Tallyn Da Silva and Kit Laulilii.
Since then, he has steadily progressed through the ranks, leading him to play in the Under-21s Jersey Flegg Cup for the past two seasons.
It is here that he began to make a name for himself, emerging as one of the more exciting outside backs in the competition, thanks to his athleticism, speed and outstanding aerial ability.
His ability to break tackles and create something out of nothing made him a human highlight reel.
That was a crack up. It was mad (my) phone was blowing up straight after the game,” Tavana added.
“I had to turn off the app and delete it that night, but it was crazy.”
Landing a couple thousand extra followers, just imagine how many more followers he has now gained off the back of his first-grade debut. (Fox)
He kinda looks like 1 of the Large brothers.
Deine Mariner, also.
Looks like a footballer.
Hope he kills it.
We need a player like him.
Built not Bought.
Deine Mariner, also.
Looks like a footballer.
Hope he kills it.
We need a player like him.
Built not Bought.
balmain boy
Well-known member
It doesn't make sense , he's still playing this week. If Skelton is fit, and was last week and this week there's Saukuru and Mason available too, how can we get an exemption? There's two backs named on the bench?
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
How new Wests Tigers winger Faaletino Tavana saved his NRL career from the brink
21-year-old rookie Faaletino Tavana’s career looked over before it even began, finding himself on the chopping block after failing to meet Benji Marshall’s standards. Now he’s the Tigers’ breakout star.Tyson Jackson
April 5, 2026 - 12:00PM
He is the Wests Tigers’ latest rookie who’s career looked over before it began.
The 21-year-old Faaletino Tavana has taken the NRL by storm, scoring one of the great tries in pre-season before playing a pivotal role in last week’s 32-14 win over New Zealand.
But before his stunning rise, Tavana was inches away from becoming the first casualty of Benji Marshall’s hardline stance on their new standards.
In his first pre-season, Marshall laid down the law, but Tavana was still struggling to meet the benchmarks expected of a Wests Tigers player in 2026.
Marshall and the coaching staff admitted they almost showed the rookie the door before the Christmas break, a decision that could have ended his first-grade dreams.
Faaletino Tavana was close to getting axed by Benji Marshall over the summer. Picture: NRL Images.
“He has his standards, and if you’re not up to it, then you just gotta go,” Tavana said on his pre-Christmas form.
“It was tough, it was my first pre-season and I probably could have been a bit more prepared, I had weeks to go over it and just come back in a better mindset.”
Despite the reality check, Tavana says the same people who were going to show him the door were the ones who helped him the most.
Faaletino Tavana has caught eyes since emerging on the NRL scene. Picture: NRL Images.
Tavana had a strong debut against the Warriors. Picture: NRL Images.
“I had heaps of support around me, especially from the coaches and staff, to just sort of keep my head down and keep going,” Tavana said.
“There are times where I may have a bad training session here or there.
“But I know to just go back to my notes I had from the first two weeks of pre-season, just to show where I came from, and what I have to do to get back.”
And the results have been quick.
After an eye-catching debut against the Warriors, he’s making a strong case to be long-term solution in their backline, having forced incumbent winger Jeral Skelton onto the bench.
His battle with veteran winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck last week provided an early insight into the Tigers’ newest speedster and his mentality towards his opposition.
Tavana is full of confidence. Picture: NRL Images.
“I don’t care who’s in front of me,” the debutant said.
“They just give me a job to do, and whoever’s in front of me, I just have to take them on.”
The Tigers backline has been riddled with injury to start the year, with Jarome Luai, Taylan May and Starford To’a all sidelined over the five weeks of the competition.
But Tavana’s form - and that of the team - could make him more than just a stopgap.
“I’m trying to stay as long as I can,” Tavana said.
“If I can put pressure on the boys above me, to keep their spots and I can help the boys or the team in general, I’m happy with that.”
Thx for posting @BlackWhiteGold
100% correct BWG.
crazycat
Well-known member
Interesting that Skelton is NOT back this week.
Tristan Hope is on the reserves and I truly hope Benji is keeping Skelton around incase this Rookie has rookie nerves (Which IMHO is to be expected).
Kinda concerned we don't have a hooker on the bench, Latu Fainu would probably go in if Api went down. Particularly as TDS will relieve Ryley Smith, Man we take Api for granted...
Really need to be careful not to burn api out, has happened for the past 3 years. And we never learn!!
davey_farrell
Well-known member
Ttthanks Dave!
Why do you have to have a reserve hooker because the other team does . The reason the other team is , because neither are up to 80 mins. We have rested api already this year , he’s had a bye week and played 2 full games . He would be nowhere near maxing out . By the middle of the year if we don’t give him periodic rests sure . But the club would have all the data on where he’s at , and if his fitness performance has dropped . I think I read that he has achieved PBs all summer in fitness , so fitness I don’t think will be an issue
davey_farrell
Well-known member
The problem is Hope is not first grade standard, when he came on against Souths he was aweful. Hopefully if Api needs a break Latu can do a job, however i see Latu as a ball playing lock in the future.
