Dally M winner Tom Trbojevic, named this week as the NRL’s fullback of the year, has given Souths youngster Blake Taaffe a massive vote of confidence as the Rabbitohs’ rookie prepares to break an NRL record in the Grand Final.
Taaffe has stepped up under enormous pressure in the No.1 jersey at Souths since ‘Turbo’s’ State of Origin teammate Latrell Mitchell was banned for a hit on Joseph Manu of the Roosters.
Taaffe, 22, will be having just his sixth first grade start and eighth NRL game in Sunday’s decider, making him the most inexperienced player in the NRL era to play in a Grand Final.
Trbojevic, who will be at the game to watch several of his Blues teammates face off, says he’s been impressed with the way Taaffe has taken to the step up.
“It will be very hard but the way he’s been playing he hasn’t looked out of place so that’s a credit to him,” Trbojevic told The Roar.
“The amount of first grade games he’d played before stepping into that arena, I’d be overwhelmed for sure. He’s doing an exceptional job and I wish him all the best on Sunday.
“It’s different for everyone. I’m someone who was always very nervous and still get nervous for games.
“If you just get into just playing footy as quick as you can it gives you the best chance to play well.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
“He’s certainly doing that. It doesn’t seem like he’s getting worried or holding back. He’s just going out there doing what he does best and it’s working for him. He’s very quick moves across the field very well, he’s a very good footy player and fits into that Souths side very well.”
Trbojevic says it will have been a difficult few weeks for Mitchell.
“I reckon it would be very hard to watch your side play in a Grand Final knowing you would want to be out there with them,” Trbojevic said.
“But Latrell will definitely be doing his best. They’ve got a young fullback there who’s playing some really good footy to help and the way Latrell trains is infectious. He’s definitely playing his part.”
While Trbojevic had one of the best ever individual seasons seen in the NRL, he and Manly fell just short of the Grand Final.
“Yeah I’m very disappointed,” he says. “It’s hard, you want to be playing this week. We were one game away. It’s tough but that’s how it works – back to drawing board and you go again.”
There were still, of course, plenty of great moments to reflect on, including his Dally M success.
“It was pretty special,” he said.
“You have to pinch yourself everytime you think you’re a Dally M winner. It’s so, so special, something that I’ll always be proud of.
“I really enjoyed the year I had, it was obviously disappointing to end it last week but that’s footy.”
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
His favourite moment came in round nine against the Warriors.
“It was my 100th game and the only game I played at Brookie this year, and I had a lot of family and friends there who have been very good to me throughout my life,” he said.
The medal presentation also buried some demons in a season where he had to undergo some serious self-assessment about his commitment, after injuring himself in an impromptu sprint race down Manly Corso.
“Obviously, it wasn’t an ideal situation how it all panned out,” Trbojevic said.
“I had to change a few things to be more professional towards rugby league. It wasn’t easy and there was obviously a lot of stress during that time, not being able to play.
“I knew what had to happen and it put me on that path for what I was able to achieve this year.”
Trbojevic doesn’t mind which team wins on Sunday, although he’s leaning towards Penrith “because they probably deserve to win one after how good they’ve been in past couple of years.
“Souths are playing some exceptional footy at the moment and it’s going to be really close,” he added.
He’s aware, of course, of the game breakers on both sides with Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary “one of the best I’ve played alongside.
“He’s got a very smart footy head, is very professional and works extremely hard.”
“He always seems to be on and it’s credit to him.
“His work ethic, not only his training but his studying and preparation for games, is second to none.
“And he’s a really good bloke, very laid back. Nothing really fazes him, he’s just a good person to be around. A lot a lot of the boys from that Penrith side are in that Origin squad and they’re great fellas and you can see why they enjoy each other’s company.”
The Barry
Roar Guru
When he dropped that first bomb in Week 1 against the Panthers it was a real “oh no, poor kid” moment. I thought he’d be bombed back to the Stone Age but to his credit he’s been close to flawless under the high ball since and has shown a lot of attacking smarts… impressive for someone so young to bounce back from a moment like that
The Barry
Roar Guru
His junior club was the mighty Paddo Colts so would have been an Easts junior if they still had juniors…
souvalis
Roar Rookie
One wonders what the actual 'development' criteria is, if any, that clearly defines a player's junior status. Seems wrong that a club can move into a region and basically claim squatter's rights over it. Cant imagine the Knights' front office, losing a huge hunk of their catchment area and identity with outsiders Ponga Clifford Pearce and Brailey, all imports, now running their spine and entire onfield operation, sitting back idly allowing that to happen.
Dropbear
Guest
He’s originally a La Perouse junior. His parents were born and bred in Lapa. They moved up the coast and still traveled down to play for Lapa util it got too much for him Keyboard warriors
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Souvalis, Graham Eadie played 1st grade for Woy Woy at 16 then went to Manly and he was classified as a local junior so it's very confusing. Now all CRL groups are classified as NSWRL . Probably all Dubbo juniors are classified as Penrith Juniors. I think all clubs like to get kids from the country and because they've developed them they say they are local juniors.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
I think both Safiti brothers played for The Entrance . As I said a lot of Central Coast juniors are " claimed to be local juniors" by those 3 clubs.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
D Saf’s official NRL profile refers to him as ‘local junior’. Bradman B. played Flegg for Newcastle..must be complicated.
Murray Fosts
Guest
Tom cruise , Oprah, Snoop Dog , , geez thats enough to make me glad i dont barrack for them, what a cess pool of yanks , but not as glad as i'll be when they are all balling their eyes out at full time tomorrow :silly:
Phil
Roar Rookie
One area that Taaffe is better than Mitchell is attacking bombs. Mitchell will leave them alone if traffic is coming his way, hoping a team mate will diffuse them whereas Taaffe will have a go. Souths would be a better team with Mitchell playing but not at fullback. He is a far better centre and more of an asset to his team playing there if he is in the right frame of mind.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Agree BD, Taafe may just be that revelation, I watched him play in the Charity Shield this year (pre-Season) at FB and he impressed. Lots of energy and a good footy brain. So far in the NRL he has also been consistently good, I'd rather see Mitchell at centre now that Gagai is leaving.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Dalai Lama. Gold.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Technically I suppose yes . Not sure how long the agreement has been going . For years everyone wanted control of CC juniors , Manly, Newcastle and East's got it because Wyong was their feeder club . But the agreement is for juniors from under 16-17 down . If you notice SG Ball and Harold Matthews play under Central Coast Roosters as well as Sydney Roosters . They hold some coaching clinics for CC juniors but with Covid everything is on hold . Even ladies comp play under Roosters .
souvalis
Roar Rookie
So the Saff Brothers (The Entrance) and Bradman Best (Woy Woy) are Easts juniors ?
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
BM, to be honest if South's played him at full back and Mitchell in the centres they'd be a better side but their problem next year is half where I think he will end up .
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Tom, if he played on central coast and I believe The Entrance and Berkeley Vale he'd be an Easts junior as they control central coast . The plot thickens .
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Taaffe at fullback, awesome. He has the potential to follow in the footsteps of other fullbacks like Matty Bowen, Billy Slater, Papenhuyzen and even The Little Master, Clive Churchill. All brilliant attacking fullbacks of similar stature.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Souths have a global reach with it's soul in Redfern, fans like Snoop Dog, Shaq, Tom Cruise, Pamela Anderson, Dalai Lama, Oprah, Ricky Ponting, Mark Whitney all barrack for the Pride of the League.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
It's universally accepted that the map showing Souths territory is called a globe :stoked: It's similar to how being a Qlder is determined in SOO :laughing:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
He played for the La Perouse United Panthers, Tom. He is a Rabbitohs junior. :stoked: :thumbup: Just like Josh Addo-Carr who also played for the La Perouse United Panthers and the Moore Park Broncos. I'm just putting that out there for TB and CPB for 2022. :silly:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
"I think that your map is wrong" The Roosters cap has been wrong for the past 5 years (and also in 2013-14) so why does it surprise you that their map was wrong as well Craig?