Tommy Talau #225

[barra]

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 .

Well yeah but he sprinted in at world record pace when there was a barney after MCK’s tackle but he’s MIA when a tackle pretty much closes down the game.

You’re spot on though, the mentality and drive are the big things for us.

Definitely a keeper.
But I hope that it's only youth which is causing these lapses and errors. That rush out of the line was a hero play, if he stays composed and in the line we're a good chance of snuffing that out and finishing the game a lot better than we did. Instead it put the team under undue pressure.
So I hope the above comment is right and he learns from it. But he does seem to have to learn NOT to do something wrong in every game.

 

[Tiger5150]

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.

He's already pretty lean Demps - taking any more off him is going to result in muscle loss. I was thinking about this last night and was wondering whether he could be an option as a 13 down the track - he's mobile to play in the middle or on an edge - he has some ball skills through playing in the juniors as a 6 and he's only 21.

Someone made the point of good 13's having the ability to ball play through the middle and link up with the edges - Talau could fill this role in time - you would want to be throwing him in there from this offseason though. We're really using the likes of Mikaele and Joe O as battering rams with no ball playing abillity - both have the ability to offload, but they are not link players so opposition defences know what they're getting when those two hit the ball up.

Anyway, just one of those things to think about because I don't see Talau as a long term centre.

You can't train for speed or coach it. You can make a fast man faster, it's a lot more to do with genes than training.

If Talau grows into a smarter footballer then he should end up in backrow as he keeps filling out. But right now, he's fast enough for a centre. I feel Kepaoa and him are fighting for a centre spot next year.

I was thinking if he could slim down, he could get faster........

He had his best game last night some day,
He was up against a pairing of a hooker and a utility half, playing out of position. I still saw some poor defensive reads.

Yeah, he's young... still doesn't mean we should persist with mediocrity when better options are available, on market or otherwise.

Schuster is your classic ballplaying backrower, but look at his build - kid is only 20 and plays at 106kg or thereabouts - he's also got that baby fat on him still, but I think that's just his genetics. Talau is big enough to play backrow, he's close to 100kg, so the choice for me is do we shift him to the backrow or lock?

We need some ball playing ability on the edges - Lucy and Blore both have an offload in them and the ability to push through the line. Tuilagi runs good lines and defensively looks ok - Garner can run a good line and can put on a hit but also has a tendency to arm grab which is lazy.

As far as 13's go, we've got Mikaele who really is a prop, Seyfarth and Tuki. Now Tuki provides a lot of upside here with his ability to offload - another offseason under his belt will do him wonders as I'm sure he'll get stronger and fitter. Likewise Seyfarth. Maybe Talau could be that roving backrower/lock as Lucy doesn't have 80 minutes in him?

Just because you have a bloke, who is 100kg+ who cant quite cut it as a centre, doesnt mean they HAVE to play second row. For mine Talaus handling errors and defence would disqualify him for 2nd row and my god he would be the laziest, worst defending lock in the comp.

Im not a huge fan, I can see the physical attributes though and last night was clearly his best for us.

 

[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.

He's already pretty lean Demps - taking any more off him is going to result in muscle loss. I was thinking about this last night and was wondering whether he could be an option as a 13 down the track - he's mobile to play in the middle or on an edge - he has some ball skills through playing in the juniors as a 6 and he's only 21.

Someone made the point of good 13's having the ability to ball play through the middle and link up with the edges - Talau could fill this role in time - you would want to be throwing him in there from this offseason though. We're really using the likes of Mikaele and Joe O as battering rams with no ball playing abillity - both have the ability to offload, but they are not link players so opposition defences know what they're getting when those two hit the ball up.

Anyway, just one of those things to think about because I don't see Talau as a long term centre.

You can't train for speed or coach it. You can make a fast man faster, it's a lot more to do with genes than training.

If Talau grows into a smarter footballer then he should end up in backrow as he keeps filling out. But right now, he's fast enough for a centre. I feel Kepaoa and him are fighting for a centre spot next year.

I was thinking if he could slim down, he could get faster........

He had his best game last night some day,
He was up against a pairing of a hooker and a utility half, playing out of position. I still saw some poor defensive reads.

Yeah, he's young... still doesn't mean we should persist with mediocrity when better options are available, on market or otherwise.

Schuster is your classic ballplaying backrower, but look at his build - kid is only 20 and plays at 106kg or thereabouts - he's also got that baby fat on him still, but I think that's just his genetics. Talau is big enough to play backrow, he's close to 100kg, so the choice for me is do we shift him to the backrow or lock?

We need some ball playing ability on the edges - Lucy and Blore both have an offload in them and the ability to push through the line. Tuilagi runs good lines and defensively looks ok - Garner can run a good line and can put on a hit but also has a tendency to arm grab which is lazy.

As far as 13's go, we've got Mikaele who really is a prop, Seyfarth and Tuki. Now Tuki provides a lot of upside here with his ability to offload - another offseason under his belt will do him wonders as I'm sure he'll get stronger and fitter. Likewise Seyfarth. Maybe Talau could be that roving backrower/lock as Lucy doesn't have 80 minutes in him?

Just because you have a bloke, who is 100kg+ who cant quite cut it as a centre, doesnt mean they HAVE to play second row. For mine Talaus handling errors and defence would disqualify him for 2nd row and my god he would be the laziest, worst defending lock in the comp.

Im not a huge fan, I can see the physical attributes though and last night was clearly his best for us.

Look what he was up against...

Granville, 32 year old hooker.
Ben Hampton, 30 year old utility.

Imagine if he was up against Melb or Penrith.
It's nice he had a good game but let's call a spade, a spade.. he should've had an unreal game, he didnt and neither did Nofo.

That edge is a problem iMo.

 

[momo_amp_medo]

Give him time.
He is still on L plates.

 

[Demps]

Give him time.
He is still on L plates.

They've been saying this about Brooks for years, as well... he's a 10 season veteran.

This is Talau's third year in first grade.
He's been playing the game his whole life.

I don't think the excuse can fly.
You look at NZ's Walsh.. first season and looks at home already.

I'm happy to be the devils advocate.... Talau, needs some time in the UK.

 

[Tiger5150]

Give him time.
He is still on L plates.

Two years?

 

[Demps]

Hi fellow Tigers tragics.
Ive been reading this forum for years and have never registered until now.
I think both our centres played well last night.
MCK particularly in defence and TT with ball in hand.

I agree it was a sloppy effort from TT for that try but he is young and needs to learn to be in the game for every second of the 80 minutes.

Many on here believe we need a whole host of new players. In my opinion we don’t.
If we had 2 really good centres this team would improve out of sight.
Yeah its dreamworld but if we had our current squad but were to add Lomax and Joey Manu we would improve sharply and I think if we had luck with injuries we could finish around 6th.
Laurie at 1, AD at 6, Brooks at 7.
Simpkin still learning and hopefully he improves.
Forwards are exciting and mostly young.
2 strike centres and we would be a very solid team.

Of course signing 2 good centres is unlikely for our club. If Gildart turns out to be a success and we happen to jag a Lomax type player I think TT would be an effective lock.
He has the body shape, the skills (used to be a 5/8) and I think it would suit him.
Wondering others’ opinions.

Have a good day and up theTigers

Welcome to the forum brother.

A snippet from a post I made elsewhere..

*Playing around with team lists for next year and similar to this year where we went into the year… with James Roberts and BJ Leilua as our starting centres.
Next year we have: Talau and Oliver Gildart… a rusty AJ Keapoa, maybe?

An area Madge overlooked this year and I’m hoping it isn’t overlooked again next year*

Centre is our weakest positions at the moment.
Surely Madge knows this.

Lomax and Harley Smith-Shields are upgrades and realistic... Manu would be amazing but I'm sure every club would feel the same way.

Good to see you @Demps and @TigerWest 'welcome' a new member to our forum.
I did that a few times 12 months or so ago and was put down for it.

Some one put you down for welcoming a new user?
Shameful mate...

I remember the day i signed up and @Spartan117 welcomed me.

Saw some posts the other day from a user saying his friends who go for the Tigers said they won't use the forum because they don't like the negativity. That's not what we want to be known as. Lucky they got guys like you and I, on here man... keeping that positivity alive. ✊?

 

[Tiger Woods]

TT’S eye injury update ?

 

[Guest]

TT’S eye injury update ?

Nothing yet, hopefully it's nothing serious but he looked to have copped a decent poke in it.

 

[TYGA]

Whichever way you cut it Talau is the best centre at the club. Jet, BJ, Pauga, Chee Kam it’s not a list of representatives.

We need to recruit badly but when he keeps the errors out of his game he can play. Hits hard, can score from close range and is an aerial threat.
Didn’t play juniors at centre he’s not a finished product. Showing signs of improvement.

 

[rihannafan1]

Give him time.
He is still on L plates.

They've been saying this about Brooks for years, as well... he's a 10 season veteran.

This is Talau's third year in first grade.
He's been playing the game his whole life.

I don't think the excuse can fly.
You look at NZ's Walsh.. first season and looks at home already.

I'm happy to be the devils advocate.... Talau, needs some time in the UK.

2nd year in firsts yeah?

 

[bigsiro]

Give him time.
He is still on L plates.

They've been saying this about Brooks for years, as well... he's a 10 season veteran.

This is Talau's third year in first grade.
He's been playing the game his whole life.

I don't think the excuse can fly.
You look at NZ's Walsh.. first season and looks at home already.

I'm happy to be the devils advocate.... Talau, needs some time in the UK.

You're definitely not devil's advocate. Only the other week there were pages upon pages here of criticism for TT, and rightly so.

He had 29 or so pretty average games before this weekend, so despite his best game in our colours, we don't have *that* short memories.

I don't have much confidence in the guy, but if he plays like he did until the end of the year he arguably justifies making the squad next year.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Give him time.
He is still on L plates.

They've been saying this about Brooks for years, as well... he's a 10 season veteran.

This is Talau's third year in first grade.
He's been playing the game his whole life.

I don't think the excuse can fly.
You look at NZ's Walsh.. first season and looks at home already.

I'm happy to be the devils advocate.... Talau, needs some time in the UK.

Walsh has been bog ordinary most of this year. He knows how to make a highlight real but has struggled after his first few games to make his mark in the NRL. He has also been moved around alot position wise & hasn’t played with consistent players around which helps no one.

I think Talau can be an nrl player but geez he needs to put his head down, own a position, cut the errors out (which last 2 weeks he has done) & be consistent. If he does that then our focus moved off him. It’s next year or never (being realistic we aren’t going to sign 2 nrl quality starting centers between now and then).

 

[Blocker1963]

Thought Tommy had a real dig on Saturday, even looked dangerous pushing through the line, well done young fella.

 

[Alltheway]

He just needs more time on the field to but his mistakes out of the game. Remember he’s only very young, people are way to hard on him for his age. Plus he gets a different winger every week doesn’t help. I reckon he would go better out side BLORE same age group, seem like they get on well. I would also recommend that we send him to that sprint trainer that Saab went to in the off season, I think jimmy goes to him as well. If he can get just a couple of meters extra out of him he would be s greater player for us. He may need to trim down a bit to get it, but he can afford that he’s already a big enough unit.

 

[Demps]

Give him time.
He is still on L plates.

They've been saying this about Brooks for years, as well... he's a 10 season veteran.

This is Talau's third year in first grade.
He's been playing the game his whole life.

I don't think the excuse can fly.
You look at NZ's Walsh.. first season and looks at home already.

I'm happy to be the devils advocate.... Talau, needs some time in the UK.

2nd year in firsts yeah?

Debut in 2019...

Second full year id say, yeah..

 

[Alltheway]

Give him time.
He is still on L plates.

They've been saying this about Brooks for years, as well... he's a 10 season veteran.

This is Talau's third year in first grade.
He's been playing the game his whole life.

I don't think the excuse can fly.
You look at NZ's Walsh.. first season and looks at home already.

I'm happy to be the devils advocate.... Talau, needs some time in the UK.

2nd year in firsts yeah?

Debut in 2019...

Second full year id say, yeah..

Remember he’s been bumbled around wing to centre for a fair while now. Give him some sprint training a consistent winger outside him and a bit more time he’ll come good.

 

[Roar_Power]

I actually think he will come good. Looks more confident. Still some defensive issues to iron out but he is young. I reckon he will be much improved in 2022...

 

[DJG]

Believe it or not, Talau is a big name across the younger fanbase.

Has quite a few good games and some bad touches in them, but I still think he has so much more to give..

Talau needs to be in the team somewhere in the future, but Centre is the only position I believe he'll be good in - or second row / roving lock in 3-4 years.

 

[voice_of_reason]

Talau is very much like our team; young, inexperienced, moments of brilliance, huge potential and too many errors.