Manly winger Jorge Taufua’s blockbusting return to the NRL would have surely put a smile on Laurie Daley’s face on a tough weekend for the NSW State of Origin coach.
Taufua was enormous in his first game of the year in the Sea Eagles 24-4 demolition of Cronulla at Brookvale Oval on Sunday on his return from a dislocated shoulder.
The 22-year-old’s highly encouraging effort came less than 24 hours after NSW hooker Robbie Farah was helped off Campbelltown Stadium with a dislocated elbow on Saturday night.
Wests Tigers confirmed on Sunday their skilful playmaker will miss around six weeks, which puts him in grave doubt for the Origin opener in Brisbane on May 28.
With talk Daley is set to shake up his backline as the Blues seek to break Queensland’s eight-year stranglehold on the interstate series, Taufua came into strong reckoning with his damaging display.
“After a few more games, if I can build my confidence at club level, I would be confident if I got the call-up,” Taufua said of his Origin prospects.
“I would love to pull on the sky blue jersey one day.
“But I can’t say too much at the moment. It is only my first game back.
“I was a bit rusty in the second half.
“There were a lot of opportunities to put on points but too many errors.”
Taufua stormed 60 metres upfield in the third minute on a kick return in his first touch to lay on Steve Matai’s opener and then found the tryline himself in the 21st minute when he spun away from two Sharks defenders.
Overall he made 181 metres from nine runs, including seven tacklebreaks and two linebreaks.
Manly’s captain Jamie Lyon gave his backing to Taufua’s Origin claims.
“He’s got that potential,” Lyon said.
“He is still only young but I am sure he will be in the mix.
“He was in the mix last year. We’ll see how he goes.”
With Brett Morris certain to take one NSW wing spot, Newcastle’s James McManus and Akuila Uate, Penrith’s Josh Mansour and Sydney Roosters’ flyer Daniel Tupou are all likely to come into consideration for the other slot alongside Taufua.
Brett Stewart’s effort would have also pleased Daley.
In his best game of the year the superstar Manly fullback laid on four tries, had three linebreak assists and made 133 metres from 14 runs.
Daley however wouldn’t have been delighted with the form of Sharks pivot Todd Carney, who struggled to make an impact while sporting a new peroxide blonde buzzcut.
Brett the manly fan
Guest
I would have Brett Stewart at fullback as he can insert himself better then Dugan and Hayne together. As for the wings we have Brett Morris, Akuila Uate, Jorge Taufau, Daniel tupou... Well we already know that Brett has one wing as got the next I would go for either Uate or Taufau, both are damaging runners and very quick, not to mention that a little bit of islander does NSW good. Tupou time will surely come.... As for the centres I would have Michael Jennings and Jarryd Hayne....Jennings it to good to be left out
langerthebronco
Guest
What would be QLDs likely line up? Use it as a guide to pick the NSW team. Slater is well matched by any of the 3 in Hayne,Stewart and Dugan. Inglis-Boyd combo?? And the real worry is, Who will come close to matching Cronk-Thurston-Smith combo.
Dallas
Guest
Mate this article has nothing to do with rugby union wingers. Whether Taufua compares to north and savea is irrevelant, unless they are eligible to play for the blues? The fact is Jorge Taufua is a good chance of getting a spot alongside Brett morris on the wing unless they play jarryd hayne on the wing
nerval
Guest
Maybe I've seen wingers who exemplify the term "wrecking ball" better than does Taufua? He's a decent NRL wing and I know that the Manly fans are fond of him… but if he is indeed one of the best in the competition then, maybe, the NRL isn't quite all it's cracked up to be. In terms of wingers alone, rugby union - in the shape of the likes of George North and Julian Savea - is miles ahead.
JZ
Guest
can we please just select some Ozzys in the team, SOO has to now be open for all players in the nrl surly its time. If a pacific islander wants to play SOO & his eligible to play it shouldn't mater what country he plays for after that.
nerval
Guest
It's good that he's belligerent, aggressive, threatening etc in contact, NSW, not bad - it's just that he has very little else going for him. Power is as a result of speed and strength though, and while Taufua has the latter, he's desperately short of the former. He has no footwork to speak of and often looks befuddled when trying to beat an opponent one on one. Taufua is a good NRL winger, but no more than that. Sorry.
Dallas
Guest
Jorge Taufua is a wrecking ball, you don't have a clue mate.
soapit
Guest
without going back and checking nsw would have had pretty decent spines going back with buderus, johns fittler etc (not even sure of the fullback) nsw just had no succession planning for a bunch of great players getting old or injured at once and in hindsight picked the wrong guys (who couldnt be/werent retained to benefit from the experience despite the loss) and have been on the back foot ever since playing catch up with new (and not as good) guys up against experienced quality combo. we're getting close though. a lot of those series qld were there to be beaten but we werent good enough.
Gazzatron
Guest
It's probably not fair comparing Taufua to Julian Savea. Savea is probably the best winger either code has. Taufua reminds me of Vatuvei except Vatuvei has hands like feet and is slightly bigger and faster.
muzz
Guest
Mansour is so powerful I can't believe it, yet he doesn't back himself enough. A number of times I thought he was a certainty to score but he hesitated in some way and didn't get it done. Some guys, like morris and inglis just seem to find a way to get it done.
Klee gluckman
Guest
Hopoate should be in the mix.
Klee gluckman
Guest
hoppa.a
NSWelshman
Guest
lolol............not explosive, no speed, belligerent (do you know what the word actually means) in contact lol. I seem to recall he was equal top try scorer last season & would have been atop alone had he not been suspended for a few weeks. Tupou is really setting the world alight at the moment eh?????? Yes he had his first game for this season after coming back from injury, however he did more damage in yesterdays game than Tupou has in 6 rounds!!! Taufua would be devastating in SOO...............& yes you are entitled to your opinion as am I. Personally my wingers would be a choice between Taufua, Morris, Hopoate & Mansour!
nerval
Guest
Jorge Taufua has had one decent game this year, and now he's a shoo-in for Origin? Is that all it takes? He doesn't have anything resembling a side-step or an outside-swerve, he's not quick over a distance or off the mark and his lack of height - compared with Tupou - doesn't help him under the high ball. He is solid and belligerent in contact, without being explosive. Compare and contrast him with the All Blacks left wing, Julian Savea - the latter is on another planet by comparison. Surely the Blues can do better than this?
Dallas
Guest
Yea Leilua has to be the next centre in line behind morris and Jennings, he has got spiders on him at the moment no one can tackle him. A Leilua - Taufua centre wing pairing would be pretty devastating
Bluey
Guest
I'm a huge Leilua fan. He's a beast who can lift for big games.
Sir Jamie Lyon
Guest
Pick jorgy he's a tank and is made for origin. How they picked merrit over him is another mystery of the universe.
Dallas
Guest
Agree with you there. George tafua is much better winger than tupou, and Mansour is playing well as well. Tupou is not up to the mark of state of origin
Sideline Comm.
Guest
That was a bit too sarky in retrospect so sorry for that, but I hear the same old problem reiterated so often around the NSW team. Of course we our 1, 6, 7, and nine aren't as good. In all likelihood, no spine has ever been better Thurston, Lockyer, Slater, Smith. Against that spine continuity was also impossible because all outfits were destined to failure, and failure demands answers.
The eye
Guest
Running bomb chasers off the ball isn't being policed strongly this year so Tupous not as useful as he was..the power of Mansour and Tafua is a greater benefit..