Taupau not happy with bench spot

[Geo]

Taupau not happy with bench spot
By Jack Brady
NRL.com
10:00am Wed 18th February, 2015

Martin Taupau had a breakout performance in the Four Nations final and wants to earn a spot in Wests Tigers starting side. Credit: Robb Cox. Copyright: NRL Photos
His time on the field in the Four Nations final only lasted 22 minutes but it was the best quarter of a game aggressive Wests Tigers prop Martin Taupau has ever played.

His breakout performance in the Four Nations final – where he broke five tackles, ran for 104 metres and left plenty of experienced Kangaroos looking for cover - is the benchmark the five-Test Kiwi wants to work on moving forward, because simply put, he isn't happy starting on the bench.

"It was [the best performance of my career]. It was crazy. There was a lot of adrenalin pumping through my body," Taupau told NRL.com.

"In terms of laying the platform for the Kiwis, the final was amazing for me.

"Now I'm not content [on the bench] here at the Tigers. I'd love to be in a starting position. I've been looking to improve more."

While Keith Galloway and Aaron Woods seemingly have the inside running for the Tigers top prop spots, Taupau insists his aggression can be easily transferred depending on whether he starts in the 13 or from the interchange bench.

Ready to show his worth as a starting forward, Taupau has also taken it upon himself to change his style of play if it means it will be beneficial for him moving forward.

An opportunity may be present in the back-row for the 25-year-old too, considering the departures of Adam Blair, Braith Anasta, Bodene Thompson, Liam Fulton and Cory Paterson from the club.

"The aggression isn't going anywhere for me because I'm very competitive. It's always going to be within me and it's just about controlled aggression," Taupau said.

"Now it's more about maintaining my fitness and looking out for the body because my aggression is one of the key ingredients in the way I play. I'm an impact player.

"That's what I've been working on in the pre-season, but you know I have to broaden my horizons and mix up my game. I don't want to be a battering ram for any team so I want to mix up my game and go from there.

"It's a long term goal for myself to be more versatile and to be able to play anywhere in the forwards."

With the Tigers expected to give game time to rookies Lamar Liolevave, Salesi Funaki and Brenden Santi, an opportunity has presented itself to Taupau in terms of becoming more of a leader at the club in 2015.

After making 45 appearances in the NRL, Taupau is especially keen to help the Tigers' young Pacific Islander kids grow in both a personal and playing capacity.

"Being an Islander myself, we're really shy and like to keep to ourselves, so I'd like to bring the boys out of their comfort zone and get them to express themselves," Taupau said.

"I'm not so much a talking-type of leader though. I do a bit of talking one-on-one to the boys here and there but I'd rather show on the field what I can do and lead by example."

http://www.nrl.com/taupau-not-happy-with-bench-spot/tabid/10874/newsid/83887/default.aspx

 

[Geo]

Love this bloke….rip in Marty....

 

[Newtown]

There is a chance that Taupau could be playing most of the season at lock.

 

[foreveratiger]

Don't upset our Taupau. Leads by example and will be a tower of support for our young forwards learning the ropes.
Have no hesitation with him starting.

 

[happy_tiger]

There is a chance that Taupau could be playing most of the season at lock.

Well if he is going to be our lock , he should be there this week

Our Round 1 side who are fit should be playing in position v Cronulla

No ifs or buts about it

 

[Spartan117]

Careful Marty,

There is a man rapidly approaching middle age that is developing a non physical man crush on you.
\
\
Jokes aside - I love this guys attitude and I want him to a WT weapon.

A ready made replacement for Blair at 13 IMO

 

[hobbo]

Don't upset our Taupau. Leads by example and will be a tower of support for our young forwards learning the ropes.
Have no hesitation with him starting.

I agree , I hate how most on hear want Marty coming off the bench , when a plodder like Galloway gets to be in the run on side .
Taupau's a champion with pure talent and aggression .
Whatever Taupau wants he should get IMO .

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

 

[stevetiger]

There is a chance that Taupau could be playing most of the season at lock.

He should be.

 

[Demps]

Don't want him to be another….B Austin.
Look after him.

Let him start, whether in the front row or at #13
A important piece to our puzzle.

 

[Geo]

Gawd….it not that Taupau is not happy with the WT cause he's on the bench ...it's that he's not happy being a bench player and wants to start....improve his game......beggars belief...that is all

 

[happy_tiger]

Don't upset our Taupau. Leads by example and will be a tower of support for our young forwards learning the ropes.
Have no hesitation with him starting.

I agree , I hate how most on hear want Marty coming off the bench , when a plodder like Galloway gets to be in the run on side .
Taupau's a champion with pure talent and aggression .
Whatever Taupau wants he should get IMO .

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

Its got to do with what is for the better of the team at this stage

Keefy would be useless off the bench , he offers no straight up impact

Taupau fits that bill at the moment

Taupau couldn't do what he does for 60 minutes a week

In time he will and then we need to look at the situation again

Why is it we are expected to show respect for Rowdy yet it is pile on with Keefy

Keefy might come good with his foot issues and become a dominant figure at the WT's if Taylor and the S & C team have done their homework

 

[hobbo]

Don't upset our Taupau. Leads by example and will be a tower of support for our young forwards learning the ropes.
Have no hesitation with him starting.

I agree , I hate how most on hear want Marty coming off the bench , when a plodder like Galloway gets to be in the run on side .
Taupau's a champion with pure talent and aggression .
Whatever Taupau wants he should get IMO .

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

Its got to do with what is for the better of the team at this stage

Keefy would be useless off the bench , he offers no straight up impact

Taupau fits that bill at the moment

Taupau couldn't do what he does for 60 minutes a week

In time he will and then we need to look at the situation again

Why is it we are expected to show respect for Rowdy yet it is pile on with Keefy

Keefy might come good with his foot issues and become a dominant figure at the WT's if Taylor and the S & C team have done their homework

We need to get off to better starts in our games and IMO we'd make better starts with Taupau in the starting line up than with Galloway & woods .
What harm can it do starting Keefy on the bench ?
(It may even give Keefy more fire in the belly) when he comes on ?
We need more mongrel in our starting pack that we've previously offered IMO .

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

 

[Guest]

I have always felt comfortable with Galloway and Woods starting because they're more your traditional front rower and geneerally get the team rolling forward with an even share of possession. Galloway though needs to improve this year because last year he was disappointing, and with how Taupau performed…The other factor is Ava who looks the fittest I've ever seen him and will be pushing to play more minutes this year. It's a good position to be in IMO.

 

[innsaneink]

Galloway….you said it yourserlf hobbo - a plodder, yes great lets have plodders on the bench

Hes no plodder, he makes his tackles and his 10m per run... he keeps it tight for when blokes like taupau can come on and work off the platform thats been set already by our plodders.

Im glad marty is hungry, he wants to improve...and I dont see a bench spot as anything less than a 1-13 spot....its a 17 man game

 

[hobbo]

Galloway….you said it yourserlf hobbo - a plodder, yes great lets have plodders on the bench

Hes no plodder, he makes his tackles and his 10m per run... he keeps it tight for when blokes like taupau can come on and work off the platform thats been set already by our plodders.

Im glad marty is hungry, he wants to improve...and I dont see a bench spot as anything less than a 1-13 spot....its a 17 man game

Yes he makes his tackles (most of them) and makes 10 or so meters a run (wow).
We want players to hurt the opposition in tackles and to burst through the defensive line (Taupau). As for having Galloway on the bench , he's in the same boat as lawrence IMO ( over paid and under performs) , but we can't afford to have them play in NSW cup .

Anyways lets see how they go at the start of the year .

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

 

[happy_tiger]

Galloway….you said it yourserlf hobbo - a plodder, yes great lets have plodders on the bench

Hes no plodder, he makes his tackles and his 10m per run... he keeps it tight for when blokes like taupau can come on and work off the platform thats been set already by our plodders.

Im glad marty is hungry, he wants to improve...and I dont see a bench spot as anything less than a 1-13 spot....its a 17 man game

Yes he makes his tackles (most of them) and makes 10 or so meters a run (wow).
We want players to hurt the opposition in tackles and to burst through the defensive line (Taupau). As for having Galloway on the bench , he's in the same boat as lawrence IMO ( over paid and under performs) , but we can't afford to have them play in NSW cup .

Anyways lets see how they go at the start of the year .

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

As I said if we are giving Rowdy the benefit of grave doubt , we need to do the same for Keefy

If the club have cured his foot and turf toe issues and he can finally get some drive from that foot he will be a completely different beast in 2015

 

[hobbo]

Galloway….you said it yourserlf hobbo - a plodder, yes great lets have plodders on the bench

Hes no plodder, he makes his tackles and his 10m per run... he keeps it tight for when blokes like taupau can come on and work off the platform thats been set already by our plodders.

Im glad marty is hungry, he wants to improve...and I dont see a bench spot as anything less than a 1-13 spot....its a 17 man game

Yes he makes his tackles (most of them) and makes 10 or so meters a run (wow).
We want players to hurt the opposition in tackles and to burst through the defensive line (Taupau). As for having Galloway on the bench , he's in the same boat as lawrence IMO ( over paid and under performs) , but we can't afford to have them play in NSW cup .

Anyways lets see how they go at the start of the year .

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

As I said if we are giving Rowdy the benefit of grave doubt , we need to do the same for Keefy

If the club have cured his foot and turf toe issues and he can finally get some drive from that foot he will be a completely different beast in 2015

That's why I said " anyways lets see how they go "

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

 

[happy_tiger]

Galloway….you said it yourserlf hobbo - a plodder, yes great lets have plodders on the bench

Hes no plodder, he makes his tackles and his 10m per run... he keeps it tight for when blokes like taupau can come on and work off the platform thats been set already by our plodders.

Im glad marty is hungry, he wants to improve...and I dont see a bench spot as anything less than a 1-13 spot....its a 17 man game

Yes he makes his tackles (most of them) and makes 10 or so meters a run (wow).
We want players to hurt the opposition in tackles and to burst through the defensive line (Taupau). As for having Galloway on the bench , he's in the same boat as lawrence IMO ( over paid and under performs) , but we can't afford to have them play in NSW cup .

Anyways lets see how they go at the start of the year .

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

As I said if we are giving Rowdy the benefit of grave doubt , we need to do the same for Keefy

If the club have cured his foot and turf toe issues and he can finally get some drive from that foot he will be a completely different beast in 2015

That's why I said " anyways lets see how they go "

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

I said it first Hobbo :smiley:

 

[851]

Marty would work at Lock,with Ava and Lodge as bench frontrowers.

 

[hobbo]

Yes he makes his tackles (most of them) and makes 10 or so meters a run (wow).
We want players to hurt the opposition in tackles and to burst through the defensive line (Taupau). As for having Galloway on the bench , he's in the same boat as lawrence IMO ( over paid and under performs) , but we can't afford to have them play in NSW cup .

Anyways lets see how they go at the start of the year .

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

As I said if we are giving Rowdy the benefit of grave doubt , we need to do the same for Keefy

If the club have cured his foot and turf toe issues and he can finally get some drive from that foot he will be a completely different beast in 2015

That's why I said " anyways lets see how they go "

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

I said it first Hobbo :smiley:

Yes :master:

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_