It’s tough being good. Siosifa Talakai is finding out that the higher you rise in rugby league, the more people want your number.
The Sharks centre could be about to become the centre of bidding war between his state, New South Wales, and his heritage nation, Tonga, with both seeking his services come the representative round in June.
Talakai has been pulling up trees in the Shire, culminating in a monster first 40 against Manly that saw him dominate his counterpart, Morgan Harper, so completely that the Sea Eagle was hooked at half time.
There were two tries, three try assists and nearly 200m in the first half alone in a showing that catapulted Talakai into the rep conversation.
It’s been a meteoric rise for the former Mascot Jet. Despite debuting at South Sydney in 2016, he was released and bounced through the NSW Cup, working the bins while chasing his footy dream with Penrith and later Newtown.
It was with the Bluebags that he caught the eye of Cronulla and got a belated return to top grade in 2020. Now, he stands on the brink of rep honours.
The choice will have to be made sooner rather than later. There’s a spot in the NSW centre position following the injury to Latrell Mitchell, but with a Tonga test match against New Zealand in Auckland set to be announced imminently for the same weekend as Origin 2, that option is also on the table.
Blues coach Brad Fittler was on the Nine coverage of last night’s game and mentioned interest from their side, noting that Talakai was in an Emerging Blues squad in the past.
“He played in some pathways with NSW,” he said.
“He’s a proud Tongan man, there’s a mid-season Test for Tonga at the same time as the second Origin… but he is a NSW boy.
Speaking in the sheds after the game, Talakai said that he was aware of the interest and wanted to represent his state.
“I definitely want to make myself eligible for NSW,” said the 25-year-old.
“I want to try and make Origin first and hopefully I can do that.”
Under current eligibility rules, Talakai could play for NSW in Origin and then switch to Tonga for the World Cup.
He revealed that he had already been in touch with Mate Ma’a Tonga coach Kristian Woolf, who is currently based in the UK with St Helens.
“With Tonga being a tier two team, I know I can play there as well,” said Talakai.
“I want to try to make Origin first and hopefully I get to represent Tonga [too]. I want to represent my parents, I owe a lot to them.”
“I’ve been talking to Woolfy quite a bit.
“We already have that kind of relationship where if he picks me I’m grateful, I’m still just grateful just to have him in my contacts.”
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Why so focused on criteria when you had Inglis for years who qualified on absolutely zero of the eligibility criteria. These are the NRL's full set of questions used to judge. There are no other questions. Answers inserted for GI, and are the same answers for Luai. # Which State were you born? NSW # In which State did you play Rugby League a majority of years between U/6 and U/18? NSW # In which State did you spend a majority of years at school? NSW # In which State did you first participate in a Junior representative competition? NSW # For which State did you first play School State representative Rugby League? NSW # Did your father play State of Origin, and if so for which State ? No
Chris Love
Roar Guru
We already allow them to play for tier 2 if not selected. They shouldn’t have our origin players too.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Again I disagree. If the ARL doesn’t help emerging nations there won’t be international rugby league. Origin is a stand alone concept
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Well it bloody should be. The NRL and the ARL are not there to be the development arm of tier two nations. If Luai has no intention of playing for Australia if picked, then Freddy needs to find another 5/8. Pure and simple.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
I don’t agree. Origin isn’t a Kangaroos trial anymore, hasn’t been for a long time.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
That’s what I mean. They should have to declare allegiance to Australia first if they are to be even considered for origin. Should Mal not select them for the Australian team later on, then they should be able to play for a tier two nation. Luai should be made to chose before he gets selected for origin.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
No, to be eligible for Origin he has to be eligible for Australia. He would then have to change his international eligibility post Origin
Chris Love
Roar Guru
They can still play for a Tier two nations provided they aren’t picked for Australia.
Chris Love
Guest
Will he be playing at the WC for Samoa because he doesn’t get picked for Australia? Or is that his first choice?
Eric
Guest
Brett they'd rather an off season to rest and recover than play in a meaningless tournament against fellow Australians playing for countries they've never been to
Eric
Guest
They never play in Tonga? You Rugby League fans really need to get a little cultured with other sports. Go do a bit of research Max and come back to me
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Yeah the concepts of The Rest, The Exiles or the All Stars is always weak. I reckon there is a natural rivalry between north and south Island players. And the hakas. Don't forget the hakas. NRL teams and broadcasters will never ever ever ever cop the financial loss of brushing four games. If my fairly haphazard, ill advised plan for North/South NZ did go ahead, it would bring more "content". That and some annual tri-series games between Tonga and Samoa and the women's origin might, just might, mean the NRL comp could shut down for those three weeks. Maybe.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Yeah not so sure. I know they tried that in England with Lancashire v Yorkshire and then England v the Exiles, but it never really worked. If you were going to do it it would have to be Auckland v the Rest, and any competitive game when one of the teams is "The Rest" rarely works. Origin has never been manufactured. Origin works in spite of the game. Its more than RL, its cultural. The future for International RL is a shorter NRL club season. It always has been, and always will be. Until the clubs are prepared to give up at least 4 weeks of the season for international footy it'll constantly get put on the backburner, which is a shame.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Well I've just checked the INTRL website and there's no reference to "Tiers" as such, just the level of membership, Full, Associate or Observer, and Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, PNG & the Cook Islands are all full members. The notion of Tiers is basically an NRL concept regarding players eligibility for Origin. Essentially its more about Origin eligibility for NZ or English players who would otherwise be good enough to be selected, ie guys like Sam Burgess or SBW (when they played). If it wasn't for Origin the discussion wouldn't even be happening.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Yeah, apples and oranges
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
I wouldn’t go that far, Australian players are very proud of the Kangaroos jersey.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
100%. No doubt Origin is the games pinnacle competitively, but representing your nation of heritage is the highest honour.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Tier two nations players should be able to play Origin as well. That said, even though he would be awesome for the Blues, I’d much rather see him play for Tonga.
:laughing:
max power
Guest
not an interesting convo. one born in nsw , the other moved to queensland as a teenager