Winger Jorge Taufua’s match-winning try for the Sea Eagles against St George-Illawarra on Monday night came as little surprise to fervent Manly watchers.
The young back has been a revelation for the maroon and white since making his first-grade debut last year in round four.
Samoa-born Taufua has been one of Manly’s most consistent performers, a big attacking threat from the wing. His try-scoring record of 18 tries from only 31 matches shows that.
His four-pointer in the dying stages of the Dragons clash, where he went through several opposition defenders to barge his way over the line, was another addition to his solid CV.
Taufua is a strong-running, powerful winger. The 21-year old is pretty quick, for someone who is 102 kg, and is a very good defender.
The quiet individual breaks tackles at will, knows how to find the try-line and never shirks a physical battle.
The Wentworthville Magpies junior, who was raised in Sydney’s western suburbs and yet is also eligible for New Zealand, Tonga, and Samoa, is solid under the high ball as well.
I think he would be a good fit for the NSW Origin side in a 2 or 5 jumper.
Taking a look at the Blues wing ranks and there are not a lot of options there.
Brett Morris and Brett Stewart were both hurt in the Monday match and may miss the Origin opener. That could mean moving Jarryd Hayne to fullback and some wing spots opening up.
The top contenders are Knights flyer Akuila Uate and Souths veteran Nathan Merritt. Both are good players.
Uate is one of the most damaging attacking runners in the NRL but can be a liability in defence.
He has made some mistakes in Origin before, being exposed by Queensland, and often makes bad reads. He’s also not particularly strong under the high ball.
Merritt is a try-scoring machine who has been doing the business for the Rabbitohs for over a decade. He is fast and prolific, is very experienced and has certainly earned a Blues debut. But he is far from being the biggest winger going round, at 86 kg and 181cm. Merritt may struggle defending against the likes of Inglis, Hodges and co.
Others in the running after 2012 City-Country players James McManus and Michael Gordon. Both have played State of Origin before – Gordon, one game in 2010, and McManus, one game in 2009. But Gordon is now a regular fullback for Cronulla and McManus is more of the solid, respectable but undistinguished pro.
Taufua would be a wildcard option, for sure, but he would add something different. The right balance of size, power and speed, the former Parramatta Eel relishes the tough stuff and can intimidate in both attack and defence. In his debut season he made 100 tackle breaks, which was the third highest by any player in the NRL.
This year he is one of the top players in the competition in metres run and return metres from kicks, alongside Greg Inglis. This is the kind of weapon NSW needs.
Taufau is a relative novice, but he was not overawed by semi-finals football last year and he played for City Origin this year.
The selection and performance of another young Manly back, now longer with the club, was a gamble made by NSW back in 2011 but it paid off. Jorge Taufau, like William Hopoate, wouldn’t let the Blues down.
The 2013 series may come too soon for the smashing Samoan Sea Eagle, which would be understandable. But higher representative honors beckon for this young achiever sooner rather than later.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
Ra
Guest
Yeah but blank, the sun has set on the empire. While many here are getting carried away with the up coming State of Origin tournament it is really just a little ole local derby between two groups of Ozi ockers hell bent on trying to out oi oi oi each other. But it's not every bodies pinnacle. I'm sure Foran is really proud to have played for the Blues 18's as a stepping stone to his kiwis junior top and to higher honors in the full Kiwis side. My question for you there Blanko, is how many actual ockers would make the NSW side if the rules let the likes of Foran and Benji who played for Ozzi schoolboys play State of Origin. How bout even changing the name and calling it Island of Origin, I mean, North, South or Pacific Island oi oi oi
uPelican
Guest
I used to love going to North Sydney Oval to watch the Bears. But Alex Buzo, the Australian playwright, author and fanatical bears supporter published a book called Tautology in 1981. It featured great tautologies from sports commentators, especially Rex Mossop. Buzo also included one of his own as an example : 'Norths played badly'.
Damn Straight
Roar Rookie
Me too...I was less gutted to hear that Parramatta have finally released Ben Roberts. He will be sorely missed; by all opposition teams playing Parra. Roberts was always the 14th man on the field for opposition teams
planko
Roar Guru
Bring back the bears ... all good mate I was late working from home and unhappy about something else. I should not be picking on the bears good luck with getting em back.
Bring Back the Bears
Guest
Don't get upset planko, it's just a bit of banter. It appears tone of voice doesn't translate well without emoticons. Here you go :) Also if your trying to offend a bears supporter then I probably would start with their ability to disappoint on the field. If that was an issue I would have stopped supporting them years ago. If it makes you feel better the first televised grand final was in 1967, 45 years after the bears won their last top tier premiership.
planko
Guest
Ra I do fire blanks nowdays out of choice as I dont want anymore children. But you my friend are just a tool. I never said Tafua was Australian I just said he is not a Kiwi and guess what ! He is not ! Foran is a Kiwi however he did play for NSW in Under 18's.
Nathan Beuman
Roar Guru
All reports where that he had been cleared to play and was even named to play on Sunday. News of his surgery didn't come out until after 2pm.
planko
Guest
BTW 1971 was it Last or Second last that Norths came in 1971 ... Manly were top of the ladder after the season....
planko
Guest
Your are not very good at googling cause you are just wrong. It was invented then not actually used here till 1972 and changeover was not completed until 1975 ...... Most people 1968 were watching the game in BW http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0mBIeWcSSQ
peeeko
Roar Guru
born in samoa and raised in Australia - dont assume that he doesnt consider himself an Aussie
Jake
Guest
Morris had surgery today on his knee. That's hardly being made clear to play this weekend,
Ra
Guest
planko ur firing blanko's...... haven't you heard .... blood before state .... you can take the kiwi outa the country, but you can't take the country out of the kiwi - Taufua is not Aussie and neither is Foran. There's a closer blood ties to kiwis for Taufua than he has to Aussie. When you can get all the immigrants in Australia to stop speaking their mother tongue in homes in Australia, then you come back and tell us kiwis who we should be playing rugby league for. There's a world cup at the end of the year and i hope Tarfua is there on the park. i dont care what colour jersey, deep blue, red or blood. he's got the bloodlines to choose from. He wont get there playing in an Aussie-only tournament. And i think it's a great tournament - go hard Aussies oi oi !!!!!
Ra
Guest
........................Ouch .................. !!!!!!!
Boris the Mudcrab
Guest
Merritt has been producing the goods for years. Leading try scorer a few times and near the top other seasons. Good under the high-ball. Its not as if he has only played 1 good season or a handful of good games
Mantis
Roar Guru
You've got to pick the strongest possible team, which might not always be 'fair'. For me Merritt misses out again, either for M Gordon or Tafua. Unlucky yes, but I just think Merritt might be too much of a defensive liability in origin.
Bring Back the Bears
Guest
Thats just because your grandpa couldn't be bothered to upgrade his TV. Colour TV was introduced to Australia in 1967.
planko
Roar Guru
Comps are not won in ARPIL ... "My grandpa told me when Souths last won it was on a black and white TV"
planko
Roar Guru
what I like about you bench is it flexiable. eg Lewis could play Second Row, Lock , 5/8 even the centres. Sutton and Stewart when fit can play almost anywhere.
planko
Roar Guru
Tarfua is not a KIWI though and if Foran was serious he would play for the state that he play his junior football at.
Renegade
Guest
And then Souths went on to win the game....LOL