I think I've been pretty vocal about my big opinion on Halauafu Lavaka, so I really enjoyed reading this piece today:
http://www.areanews.com.au/story/2845588/lavaka-to-star-at-nines/
Kid has a really good head on his shoulders and he's obviously making every post a winner in pre-season training to get the Nines call-up. I reckon we may have pretty much already locked in Radradra and Robinson as our starting wingers but Lavaka is definitely going to be pushing them all the way.
The former Waratah Tigers junior found out last Friday he had made the 18-man side but was instructed to keep the call-up secret until the team’s official announcement on Monday.
When the deadline passed, Lavaka quickly told his parents the news.
“It was definitely a proud moment for my family, especially for my parents,” Lavaka said.
“They were in tears. They’ve been waiting a long time for something like this.
“They took me around at a young age, and to see me in the big league playing against some of the best players in the world, it’s a dream come true.”
Lavaka starred in last season’s National Youth Competition to finish as its leading try scorer with 28 from 26 games.
The 21-year-old winger was then invited to train with the Eels senior squad over summer, his performances catching the eye of head coach Brad Arthur.
“His feedback for me was that I’d been training pretty well and that he wasn’t expecting me to be training the way I am,” Lavaka said.
“I had a few weaknesses when I started, but now I’ve turned them into a couple of my strengths.”
Chief among them is defence, with Lavaka’s tackling style and positioning addressed by Arthur during the gruelling pre-season sessions.
“It (tackling) was definitely one of my main weaknesses in 2014, but he (Arthur) definitely took time out to focus on defence at training,” he said.
“Not just for myself, but basically for everyone.”
Eels supporters, however, will hope Lavaka doesn’t spend all his time on the field in Aukland performing grunt work.
The imposing 195cm, 109kg flyer has the pace and power to star in the Nines format and can put himself in contention for an NRL berth if he impresses.
“This is something I’ve been training for now for a very long time,” Lavaka said.
“This is an opportunity, a door I can see myself entering.
“But it’s not going to be the end of it.
“I want to keep going and do what I’m doing and hopefully cement a spot in the starting 17 every week.”
But Lavaka is wary about getting ahead of himself. He said his priority was to perform this weekend with his Eels teammates.
“I’ll be coming up against the best players in the game, but with professional guys like Chris Sandow and Corey Norman beside me, that’s the thing that will make me more confident,” he said.
“It’s definitely going to be challenging.
“But I know the way we’ve been going and the pre-season we’ve had.
“I’m pretty confident we’ll get a few wins.”
The Eels first match is against the Manly Sea Eagles.
Replies
He's a good kid.
Has really come along nicely, has the right attitude & approach to games and has been a joy to watch play. Matter of time before he plays first-grade.
I don't know much about him but I would like him running at me or like to chase him
I'm hoping he can jag a spot on the wing. Someone of his size with his speed and aerial ability will be good in first grade. He also hugs his wing very nicely and for a big bloke can score some athletic tries. If Lavaka proves himself well in the 9's and improves in the trials he could find himself in front of Robinson on the wing.
It also appears that Goodall isn't fairing as well in the pre-season as I would have liked him to. Stagger on LU has said that Goodall as well as a few others have been dropped to train with Wenty in the field sessions but are still doing weights with the first grade team. Hopefully he can improve over the rest of the pre-season and prove his worth in whatever grade he plays and work his way back into NRL contention.
The plot thickens.
That would certainly suggest that Lavaka is ahead of Goodall. Interesting but shows how much Lavaka wants this.
I think we've really missed having an aerial target. We're going to miss it even more this year, because Hayne was probably our best chance of pulling off a jumper for the ball. We really don't have anyone to aim a cross-field chip at so that's where you really have to look at someone like Lavaka, giving you a genuine last tackle attacking option. Personally, I'd have him ahead of Robinson because of that and also I think he has a stronger carry back as well, but I can understand if Robinson gets first crack on the basis of seniority and experience.
While the term has copped a hammering in recent times due to its insanely popular bastardised spawn 'swag', Lavaka carries more than a hint of swagger in my estimation. I distinctly recall the article that covered his transfer from the Panthers to the Eels and his self-belief and confidence in his own ability to make something of that initial 1-year deal with Parra shone through.
Fast forward to today and he is making good on that belief after his stellar final year in the Holden Cup. He was an exceptional aerial weapon in the 20s and has the prototypical modern wingers physique so it will be exciting to to see the fruit of his and Brad Arthur's work at the Nines.
That's a testament to Lavaka. He backed himself at a young age and has gone out all guns blazing. It's paid off for him.
And good on him. Been a thrill to watch him in the Holden Cup and I've got every faith in his ability to perform well in the NSW Cup as well.
Hence he's decision to sign a few older guys on 1 year contracts.
I believe this group will all be in first grade come 2016.
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