Tino Tavana #305

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
 
Milky said:
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
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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.
 
Yes I think the kid looks the goods , but we have had so many kids we thought would be 1st grade players and there all gone , kid needs to like all , even maka, too come through NSW cup , they will get chances during injuries, BUT we don’t need to rush them .
 
balmain boy said:
He was ok tonight. Made number of handling errors, don't actually win any duels in attack but contested enough for us to get a result or two. His defence is average and he struggles immensely in making metres

As a whole our entire backline were terrible with yardage. So many 20-25m sets where the backs combined for 4 hitups for 12m. We simply can't have such a small and slow backline.

But he did well defensively in the air and finished off a decent move. Solid overall. Did he add anything Skelton wouldn't have? I'm not sure. I would definitely have Skelton back next week for someone.

Also interesting that the club has promoted him without any communications yet again.
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Benji said they got approval from the NRL due to injuries to play him.
 
gallagher said:
Confident and unfazed. Hard to leave out now.

Is Benji unhappy with Skelton? Luke in round 1 and Tino this week in front of him were both surprising selections.
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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.
 
EllisFan said:
A winger who contests kicks is a weapon in today’s structured NRL.
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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.
 

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)
 
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