Tommy Talau #225

[boonboon]

Had his best game for the club tonight - ran hard and looked quicker (thought he normally has strapping on the leg but didn't tonight).

For a guy who is still eligible for flegg this year he is really starting to make centre his own.

Obviously still has some issues to work on but he is def a centre in my mind and think he will get better with another off season and just being a little older

Interesting stat from this year
When he plays centre - 7 wins , 6 losses
When he either wasnt playing centre of at all - 1 win, 7 losses

In his 13 games at centre he has 8 tries, 9 line breaks, 25 tackle breaks but does hav e 14 errors in those 13 games (although interestingly Stephen Crochton has 16 errors in 14 games at centre this yr which is similar in a much better team)

James Roberts for interest 1 win, 7 losses when playing centre

 

[Chipofftheoldblock]

Agree that this was Talau's best game. Thought he ran with purpose and intent and defensively he was better. I would like him to try and get on the outside of his man to create more 2 v1 situations as he never looks like passing or creating anything for his winger which makes him easier to defend. Big improvement tonight and hopefully he finds some form to finish the season.

 

[Yossarian]

His efforts for the Dearden try were awful. Rushed out of the line and then slowly jogged back and missed another opportunity to shutdown the play. I’m not saying he was bad but he’s got to lift. He seems up for the fun stuff but often tunes out or goes missing with the hard stuff.

I really don’t think he’s the determining factor in our success. I don’t think you can make the case Tommy is good and Jimmy is bad just on the win rates.

 

[hobbo1]

Slowly improving..seems to always beat the first man

 

[old_man_tiger]

I know he has the odd howler in defence but has improved the bloke outside him. Tigers defensive line is usually akin to buying a whole chicken and realising someone accidentally cut one wing off. In Tommy's last few games he had managed to keep Nofo outside him a few times. I'm more nervous about teams going through gaps around Luc and AD than Tommy and Nofo and I never thought I'd say that!

He needs to keep improving though, one to seven howlers a game is not going to lead to a long career.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

He cops it, but I’ve always had time for him. He knows how to find the line. 18 tries in 32 games. Hard to believe he’s still only 21.

 

[cochise]

I would take a centre that plays the way Talua did tonight every week, I am not sure he is capable of being that centre though.

 

[Elderslie_Tiger]

I think we tend to forget how young some of our guys are

 

[avocadoontoast]

I think we tend to forget how young some of our guys are

I think our young guys can hold their heads up, they've been our only positives this season.

 

[cochise]

I think we tend to forget how young some of our guys are

I think our young guys can hold their heads up, they've been our only positives this season.

We have to keep finding these young guys and sell to them that they are the bright future of this club and that they can turn this club around together.

 

[Tiger Woods]

TT will be our TT (tommy turbo) one day
The kid is still maturing & he can score tries

 

[TrueTiger]

I think we tend to forget how young some of our guys are

I think our young guys can hold their heads up, they've been our only positives this season.

Good coaching by Madge to get them into the NRL system and level needed to be competative .....they will only get better as they progress ....still green but learning each week...

 

[Telltails]

He cops it, but I’ve always had time for him. He knows how to find the line. 18 tries in 32 games. Hard to believe he’s still only 21.

Yep I like him even with the errors. The good stuff is real good and he has been thrown in the deep end with out much support. Have seen plenty of young players make just as many errors learning their craft in the top grade at other clubs. He is doing alright imo

 

[rihannafan1]

Talented and unfocused in equal measure.

 

[Needaname]

TT will be our TT (tommy turbo) one day
The kid is still maturing & he can score tries

More like our version of Joey Manu.
Check out the stats of both this season. Tries, Line breaks, Tackle efficiency are pretty comparable. Manu makes more run meters and passing / assists but he is considered a superstar with talk of being considered a 1 mil dollar player.
Tommy is still very raw.

 

[Moh]

I think we tend to forget how young some of our guys are

100%

Talau's weaknesses are obvious, BUT there is a lot of talent there and a lot of time for the kid to improve if he's willing. He already has come a long way.

I'm a real fan, and think/hope he will thrive with more experience.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

His efforts for the Dearden try were awful. Rushed out of the line and then slowly jogged back and missed another opportunity to shutdown the play. I’m not saying he was bad but he’s got to lift. He seems up for the fun stuff but often tunes out or goes missing with the hard stuff.

I really don’t think he’s the determining factor in our success. I don’t think you can make the case Tommy is good and Jimmy is bad just on the win rates.

To me it looked like he stuffed up , knew it , and that was it . This is the thing right . At every other level you can have that brain fade , at NRL level it’s goodnight Irene , if even the most average NRL player is given a chance .
He’s not Robinson Crusoe , this is 💯 where we struggle . We have heaps of talent , we just mentally fade in and out of games for 10 to 15 minute stretches .
To me it looks like time is the only way to fix this unfortunately .

 

[boonboon]

TT will be our TT (tommy turbo) one day
The kid is still maturing & he can score tries

More like our version of Joey Manu.
Check out the stats of both this season. Tries, Line breaks, Tackle efficiency are pretty comparable. Manu makes more run meters and passing / assists but he is considered a superstar with talk of being considered a 1 mil dollar player.
Tommy is still very raw.

Interesting you say that about our version of Joey Manu. I compared Talau with him and Stephen Chricton when playing in the centres in 2021

Both have played 13 matches in the centres this year
Talau - 8 tries, 96 ave meters, 9 line breaks, 2 try assists and a line break assist, 25 tackle busts, 10 offloads, 16 Errors and averagin 73% Tackle efficiency

Manu - 2 tries, 92 ave meteres, 5 line breaks, 2 try assists, 2 LBA,53 tackle busts, 14 offloads, 9 errors, 79% tackle effeciency

Chrichton - 14 games, 5 tries, 99 ave meters, 5 LB, 5 TA, 5 LBA, 27 tackle breaks, 13 offloads, 15 errors, 86% tackle efficency

Now Im not saying that Talau is at their level but his numbers are surprsingly solid in comparison especially when you take into account they are playing in teams winning many more games and therefore not under as much pressure and Talau has scored more tries and line breaks by a signifcant margin. However his defence isn't far off what Manu is producing in a defensive line under much less pressure most times.

Given these 2 would be classed as 2 of the best centres in the game then he compares really well stats wise I think

 

[Demps]

I hate to be the negative guy...
I still don't think he's up to it.

Looks very immature out there and has all year with minimal signs of improvement...

Wouldn't hurt slimming down a little and working on becoming faster.

I like seeing the second generation sons coming through and making their own names but sadly, Talau is a work in progress and MAY not work out.

I can agree it was his best game for us but still, as an individual performance once the dust settles... still wasn't that amazing. 5/10

Grabbing at jerseys and letting players run past him.
Looks very slow.
I'm at a loss with this one, I think if we can recruit some one better, we should and let Talau go.

 

[Geo]

Only 21.. talent is there well worth persisting with..