It has taken a failed, albeit financially lucrative, attempt at rugby union to finally convince Timana Tahu that he should never have left the Parramatta Eels at the end of a 2007 season which saw him become arguably the game’s premier centre.
On the back of career best form, Tahu helped lead the Eels to a preliminary final against the Melbourne Storm, which ultimately proved to be his last hurrah in rugby league.
Until now.
Although the Eels fell one short against the eventual premiers away from home, Tahu single-handedly kept his side in the contest thanks to his incisive running which proved to be a constant nightmare for Storm superstar Israel Folau.
It was Tahu himself that crushed Folau in a ball and all tackle that nearly broke down the former Storm winger’s brilliant debut season.
Tahu also set up what should have been a legitimate try to Krisnan Inu, after the former Wallabies international produced a brilliant offload to find the Kiwi winger on the fly late in the second half.
Had that try been awarded, maybe Tahu’s career in the NRL would have received the necessary finish it deserved. Not that it matters now, though.
In great news for the NRL, Tahu activated a get-out clause in his ARU contract that has enabled him to switch codes once again.
The former NSW Origin player yesterday agreed to a three year deal with the Eels and will be eager to return to the form that made him such a joy to watch.
Age will no doubt prove to be a barrier for Tahu, with the former Test player now hitting the twilight of his professional career.
At 29 years of age, Tahu may find it difficult to adjust to the superior speed of play that the NRL possesses in comparison to union.
The Eels themselves will be desperate to see Tahu return to his best form, due to the fact Parramatta never managed to fill in the attacking void that presented itself when he departed two years ago.
Coach Daniel Anderson should know that if Tahu manages to replicate the form that saw him nearly lead the side to a 2007 Grand Final, then it will be a homecoming that both the Eels and the rest of the NRL will no doubt enjoy.
JK
Guest
Prime example of why States need to control contracts, not that I can say with any certainty, but I believe Tahu's earning capacity diminshed by not being in wallabies 22, Tahs can only pay so much so he goes back to league to earn money. In the end, just like Lote, no use at Wallaby level so state team suffers. Not that I think he should have been earning more at the Tahs, but just an example how ARU control could have an effect.
Andystath
Guest
Sorry Steffy I stand corrected.
Crosscoder
Guest
Rickety Knees Andrew Walker played junior rugby league in the Nowra area,before he was sighted at Randwick.QED his grounding was in rugby league.
Andystath
Guest
No I dont think so Steffy and now he can step down from rugby.
Tahriffc
Guest
james - a good biggun will always beat a good littleun the tahs have some excellent Littleuns
Jolly Jupes
Guest
Greg - Waugh is talking up a big signing next week - sounds like it might be Ioane and would cover both in many ways
Steffy
Guest
Didn't Tahu win the best back award for the Waratahs union team?
Hugh Jarse
Guest
Tahu never had the skills to play 12 or 13 in rugby. He either cannot pass or chooses not to. I can't remember him catching and passing before making contact with the opposition. He plays like a league front rower from the 70s. And let's not forget his positional weaknesses in defence. I say good luck to him. Go do what you're good at. The Waratahs supporters shouldn't be worried because he never offered much.
Greg Russell
Roar Guru
Andrew - no contrariness here, I'm 1000% behind you on this one: if JON has even the remotest of remote involvements in Tahu's departure I'd be amazed. Pablo - I read that since Digby Ioane has not yet re-signed with Qld, NSW have tabled a bid for him as their Tuqiri replacement. Presumably they will make that bidding all the more intense now that Tahu has also gone. Anyone and everyone - I have just written a long comment on Tahu's departure with the other article today on him. My conclusion was "The really sad thing in this tale is simply that Australian rugby had so little to offer a player like Tahu."
Cracker
Guest
Correct RK but since then he had a fair crack in top level league so he still qualifies as a convert. Similar to Mat Rogers but I wouldn't want to claim him.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Andrew Walker was playing for Randwick before he took up a contract with St George. He is a convert to League!
Andystath
Guest
Its disappointing to see Tahu go after he was nursed through two seasons of injuries, its time to invest in people that see the honour of wearing a Wallaby jersey as the ultimate reward and not a right because they excelled at League."At 29 years of age, Tahu may find it difficult to adjust to the superior speed of play that the NRL possesses in comparison to union."Alan your sounding like Steffy! The question that should be asked is will his dodgy hammies hold up in League?Due to these hammies he was really a shithouse investment for the Tahs.Tah Tah Tahu!
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Walker is still playing club rugby in Brisbane apparently, I think for Easts. Not bad for a 36 year old.
Justin
Guest
Cracker - re Walker, he was certainly the most complete player from the league ranks. Genuine class...perhaps just lacked a tiny bit of speed to be world class but a very good footballer nonetheless.
Cracker
Guest
Midfielder, Rugby juniors are the key - the money to buy league players has been there for a while but is a marketing ploy to some extent. League players do not provide the bulk of any professional rugby side in Australia, there might be one or two max in each club but they tend to get a lot of press. At the end of the day league players are not required for Australian rugby but they do provide good media exposure. I don't think the ARU will go for any more high profile league players based on how most of them have gone - but then again they might go ahead and do just that. For the record I reckon Andrew Walker is the best convert that has come to rugby (even though he switched a few times and went walkabout).
Jameswm
Guest
Tahriffic - I'll take speed and skill over size any ay of the week. They are lightning at 13-14-15, and Beale and Holmes are fast too. The Tahs just need a decent backs coach, and I'd be looking towards mark Ella, Campo or Geoff Mould (yes there is a common green theme there). I don't get the chance to watch the club rugby enough to know who has talent there.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Why would any self respecting back want to continue playing with East Sydney Tahs after the dross they served up last season? They probably will be filing for long term neck injuries having spent the best part of 6 months watch NSW play forcings back. An exercise in complete optimism and at the same time futility but - go the NSW Country Cockatoos as the new S15 team !!!!!
Hoy
Roar Guru
Pablo, I understand big game experience, but I don't think it counts for much when the bloke next to you is possibly Andrew Gaze, or someone else who is new to rugby. Odd example, he just popped into my head. Begs the question: either Tahu thought he was better than what he was, and wanted a starting spot in the wallabies (or at least the tahs) or that he didn't enjoy the "challenge" as much as he thought.
Midfielder
Guest
Question... I have no real idea so I ask in innocence... The national domestic league Sheek often speaks of in RU in not in place...the creators of the S12 / 14 / 15 have often said we will develop juniors and ... WE have the money now to buy RL players .... If RL players are not working out .. where are the future players coming from to compete at Test & Super 14 / 15 level..
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Andrew, that comment was tongue in cheek. The point was can it get any worse for NSW? Plus part of the analysis by the media is that the ARU let Tahu go, in part because they were probably happy to save the money. Although the money goes back into the player wage pool, all these supposed savings the ARU are making are off the back of NSW. While NSW may have as much as about $300K to spend on signing more players, it has happened at a bad time of the year to be replacing them and you have to feel the NSWRU would probably have preferred to keep both Lote and Tahu. Word is after all they were trying to work out if they could still keep Lote. I am starting to feel some sympathy now for the mutterings at the recent meeting about contract and wage freedom to negotiate for the states. The point is, the ARU seems to engage in certain actions which have consequences for those lower down the foof chain, and the question is often asked as to whether it gets thought through. Or if it does, does it get explained.