Tommy Talau

[JC99]

He’ll be a solid first grader but he’s not showing that he’s a future star like people make him out to be. Hopefully he fixes his hands and keeps improving

 

[theraptor456]

Talau will be a fine and this has been a difficult learning experience for him. He's no winger and it gets lonely out there on the wing especially when he doesn't get a lit of support from his captain. Put JAC next to him who will talk in attack and defence then you will see him grow.

What qualities does he possess that lead you to believe he'd make a great center? In the modern game outside backs need some speed or footwork at the very least.

He has good speed for a centre. He can hit a gap, has a good passing game and will learn how to defend. Young backs take time to learn how to defend. I can forgive him these mistakes as it is a learning experience.

'has good speed for a centre' hahaha I'm going to stop reading and replying to you here mate. You have a good day. I want whatever crack you're smoking though.

 

[bbobb]

It's a bit hard for a rookie winger to stand out in a team that's sucking big time as a whole

He is standing out though. That is the issue. For all the wrong reasons.

As I recall so did JAC. He was always fast but had some defensive howlers in his first year at NRL level with us and he was a Winger - look at him now. On his return from injury, Teddy took years before he took his game to another level and subsequently did it again.

Point is that very few players excel in their rookie year. Tim Sheens always said that you aren’t a first grader until you play 50 games.

Give him some time.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Talau will be a fine and this has been a difficult learning experience for him. He's no winger and it gets lonely out there on the wing especially when he doesn't get a lit of support from his captain. Put JAC next to him who will talk in attack and defence then you will see him grow.

What qualities does he possess that lead you to believe he'd make a great center? In the modern game outside backs need some speed or footwork at the very least.

He has good speed for a centre. He can hit a gap, has a good passing game and will learn how to defend. Young backs take time to learn how to defend. I can forgive him these mistakes as it is a learning experience.

'has good speed for a centre' hahaha I'm going to stop reading and replying to you here mate. You have a good day. I want whatever crack you're smoking though.

Do you remember former Kangaroo centres Ryan Girdler and Mick Cronin? Neither were overly quick but both could hit a gap, position and set up their winger, tackle and kick goals. Both were also good tacklers. Talau will come on.

 

[theraptor456]

While I don't see it with this guy, I genuinely hope I am proven wrong in the next year or two.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

Talau will be a fine and this has been a difficult learning experience for him. He's no winger and it gets lonely out there on the wing especially when he doesn't get a lit of support from his captain. Put JAC next to him who will talk in attack and defence then you will see him grow.

What qualities does he possess that lead you to believe he'd make a great center? In the modern game outside backs need some speed or footwork at the very least.

He has good speed for a centre. He can hit a gap, has a good passing game and will learn how to defend. Young backs take time to learn how to defend. I can forgive him these mistakes as it is a learning experience.

He can catch as well , which is a huge boon , if say your winger gets exposed out of position in a attacking kicking situation. He’s got the “im young so I try and score every play ,fumbles” and his head dropped when he bombed that try over the line . He’s also not developed yet physically . So wait until that happens .

 

[bigsiro]

While I don't see it with this guy, I genuinely hope I am proven wrong in the next year or two.

Me too. I don’t get it.
He’s a winger with no pace and offers nothing else.
I was as pumped as anyone to get him into first grade. But if we were serious we would admit he had his go but sadly isn’t up to it.
It sucks. But we need to cut losses early before it becomes another long term dumb decision by the tigers.

 

[Hangonaminute]

Up until last night he’s been fine. Pretty fickle and lacking in general RL knowledge to discard him after one bad game.

How has he been fine? His defensive reads have always been a problem. He is non existent in attack and his only tries have come in the shape of falling over the line. Some of you supporters have lost the plot.

Totally agree and I'm glad someone else mentioned him, I don't see anything in this kid. Compare him to that young South's winger on debut the other night and he's not in the same ballpark imo.

 

[earl]

He’ll be a solid first grader but he’s not showing that he’s a future star like people make him out to be. Hopefully he fixes his hands and keeps improving

He needs to improve a lot. His defence is terrible. He has let in a couple of tries that were just really poor. I think he lacks the pace to be a winger. We could really do with JAC taking that spot rather than Talau.

Still he has shown some up side and it's fine to retain him to see if he can develop into a quality NRL player.

 

[Aceshigh]

Put him in the centres and give him a fair go .

 

[pawsandclaws1]

He’ll be a solid first grader but he’s not showing that he’s a future star like people make him out to be. Hopefully he fixes his hands and keeps improving

He needs to improve a lot. His defence is terrible. He has let in a couple of tries that were just really poor. I think he lacks the pace to be a winger. We could really do with JAC taking that spot rather than Talau.

Still he has shown some up side and it's fine to retain him to see if he can develop into a quality NRL player.

Watch him hit a gap next year with a flyer outside of him to finish.

 

[turkeytiger03]

Up until last night he’s been fine. Pretty fickle and lacking in general RL knowledge to discard him after one bad game.

How has he been fine? His defensive reads have always been a problem. He is non existent in attack and his only tries have come in the shape of falling over the line. Some of you supporters have lost the plot.

Not putting a line through a 20 year old after one bad game is losing the plot? I’m guessing this is your first year watching the game.

We've been gambling on duds for the past decade. I've seen enough to suggest he doesn't have it. Again, if someone could highlight the potential ups he has, I'd be all ears, but there simply aren't any. Being young and has okay size aren't going to get you far alone in the outside backs of the NRL. The fact he is young and this slow already is very worrying.

Well he was given the thumbs up from mr rocks and diamonds himself in Marshall. As much as he may have potential his lack of speed is alarming not to mention his flippers. Yeah he’s only 20 but are we going to be waiting in the wings again for a junior to show the goods?

 

[hank37w]

Up until last night he’s been fine. Pretty fickle and lacking in general RL knowledge to discard him after one bad game.

How has he been fine? His defensive reads have always been a problem. He is non existent in attack and his only tries have come in the shape of falling over the line. Some of you supporters have lost the plot.

Totally agree and I'm glad someone else mentioned him, I don't see anything in this kid. Compare him to that young South's winger on debut the other night and he's not in the same ballpark imo.

I'm willing to give Tommy a chance.
Not every player kills it on debut, sometimes it takes a season or two to really get confident and learn some smarts.
Look at all the players that kill it on debut and have a huge breakout year and then drop off badly. As far as centres go, a couple that come to mind are Blake Ayshford and Esan Masters that had great seasons and showed great promise and then not very much after that.
As someone else mentioned, 50 first grade games seems a pretty good mile stone in a NRL career, not everyone can kill it from day one.

 

[Harvey]

I think he has been good most of the year, but has trailed off the last couple of games. Last night was terrible.

Lot to ask for 1st full year in first grade, and if we had any other decent players you would look to give him a week or two off.

 

[Hangonaminute]

Up until last night he’s been fine. Pretty fickle and lacking in general RL knowledge to discard him after one bad game.

How has he been fine? His defensive reads have always been a problem. He is non existent in attack and his only tries have come in the shape of falling over the line. Some of you supporters have lost the plot.

Totally agree and I'm glad someone else mentioned him, I don't see anything in this kid. Compare him to that young South's winger on debut the other night and he's not in the same ballpark imo.

I'm willing to give Tommy a chance.
Not every player kills it on debut, sometimes it takes a season or two to really get confident and learn some smarts.
Look at all the players that kill it on debut and have a huge breakout year and then drop off badly. As far as centres go, a couple that come to mind are Blake Ayshford and Esan Masters that had great seasons and showed great promise and then not very much after that.
As someone else mentioned, 50 first grade games seems a pretty good mile stone in a NRL career, not everyone can kill it from day one.

Masters was always ordinary

 

[Moh]

Rubbish thread.

He hasn't set the world on fire, but has played safe as houses out of position as a very inexperienced first grader.

Young
Good, clever footwork
Strong, good leg drive
Can run a good line
Prepared to take tough caries - even after mistakes

All positive signs for me.

 

[hank37w]

I must be a bad judge because I thought he went okay a couple of seasons back.

 

[gallagher]

I wouldn't put a line through him yet, but if he is who Melb want for JAC then it's see you later.

 

[momo_amp_medo]

Only young but needs lots of skills improvements.
For me he is definitely not a wing 3/4 ...... maybe only maybe if his tackling improves he may make a strong centre.
But really if his handling, tackle effect and with experience improves then lock or second row.
Right now in a good side he would be learning his trade in reserve grade.
I think that Madge was forced to bring him into the side too early .... but of course with one more off season and good coaching under his belt he should definitely improve.

 

[Tiger_heart]

Yes, i think we don't need to throw out the baby with the bath water here..
On the other side though, when I compare his performance against others (eg Shawn Blore, Sam McIntyre) then you can see how some players appear to have a quicker impact then others.