GUTHERSON BLAIZES A TRAIL FOR TALAGI AT NO.1
Fatima Kdouh - in Darwin
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has anointed boom rookie Blaize Talagi as the long-term successor to Clint Gutherson at fullback.
Talagi, the brightest prospect at the Eels, has played most of his junior representative football at five-eighth and centre but the youngster has now told Arthur he has ambitions to wear the No.1 jersey.
Last year, Arthur revealed the club was searching for an X-factor fullback that could see skipper Gutherson shifted into the centres.
Arthur pointed out that Talagi’s desire to play at fullback would not trigger that backline reshuffle anytime soon.
But given halfback Mitchell Moses is signed until the end of 2028 and five-eighth Dylan Brown until 2031, the 19-year old Talagi is being groomed to take over from Gutherson.
Arthur conceded Talagi’s versatility meant the coach was still working out his best position in the NRL side but he was confident fullback was where the playmaker could add the most value.
“None of us (know his best position) and I don’t know if Blaize does,” Arthur said.
“We’ve talked to him about it. He is very keen to see how he goes in the fullback role and often their best position is the position they like. He likes fullback.
“We are not in a hurry to replace Gutho because he is our captain and we can’t win without him, he’s pretty important to us. But Blaize is 19 and has plenty of time to learn that role.
“I’m probably thinking that fullback long term will suit him, especially in our team where we have two halves that are going to be here for a long time. The club has done a good job in locking them down.”
Talagi has played three games at fullback in NSW Cup this year.
He trained at fullback during the week ahead of tonight’s clash against the Dolphins with the club managing Gutherson’s workload in 2024.
“Gutho wasn’t able to train during the week so he was able to fit in there,” Arthur revealed.
Dragons star Zac Lomax will join the club in 2025, where he is likely to play at centre but he too has expressed a desire to be an NRL fullback.
The decision to back Talagi at fullback in the future could play a significant role in keeping the local junior at the club.
Like Ethan Sanders, Talagi hit the open market after round 6 and rivals are free to approach the youngster.
New NRL rules prevent players who are off contract and have limited experience in senior rugby league negotiating with rival clubs prior to round 6.
Talagi made his NRL debut at centre in round 3 before Arthur handed him the No.6 jumper in round 5 after halfback Mitchell Moses suffered a broken foot but was dropped back to NSW Cup after just two games.
The coach has recalled the boom teenager into the side this week but on the bench.
Arthur was reluctant to label Talagi as the X-factor he was searching for but said the club was willing to do what it took to find out.
“It’s about giving him experience that you can’t take off him,” Arthur said.
“It comes with its challenges. Often they can come up with a big moment in the game, or a negative moment and cost you a game of footy. So that’s a risk we are prepared to take as a club and a team because we know that long term he’s got a future for us.
“In terms of whether he can provide that X-factor, I don’t want to put that label on him yet. He doesn’t want to be a bench player and we don’t want him to be a bench player but that’s just another part of his development process.”
Brown conceded Talagi’s natural ability made him suited to the No.6 role but despite the roadblocks in that position, he urged the youngster to commit his future to the Eels.
“I just think he should stay where he knows he is going to learn. There is myself and Mitchy he can learn off but we don’t know if that’s going to be his best position,” Brown said.
“I got thrown in the deep end, the same with him. Mine was a bit different though, Corey (Norman) left the club and it was like, ‘this is yours’.” — with Jen Dawson and 3 others.
Replies
This is an issue for the kid, he's a tweener. Now it worked out for Cronk who came to Melbourne as a tweener than got developed into one of the greatest Halfbacks of the modern era.
Talagi can work at Fullback but needs a lot of development. Not sure if having him on the bench all year helps that. He needs a full year of cup this year and maybe next year too.
Sounds as though the club is trying to sign him long term and fullback may be the carrot
They are playing him now for two reasons.
1) They see a chance to get him on the bench with our 17th player usually getting limited minutes anyway and need back coverage.
2) In the middle of negotiations, it is a nice bit of leverage from us to say hey you are playing FG a fair bit.
Kid needs more strength and conditioning. Also learn to tackle better. I do question his natural speed though. He's a couple years off 1st grade IMO. Having said that, if BA is to use him at fullback, Gutho makes a good hooker. Gutho's darts from dummy half are great
Honestly, i think his best spot and said this before he debuted is Centre. I think if he can build himself up by another 5kgs, he could be a really good Centre in this league.
Moses is 30 this year and has a contract till he is 32 (2026) with PO until 34 (2028)
Dylan is 24 this year with a contract until he is 25 (2025) with PO until he is 28 (2028)
Blaize is 19 years old and is not yet ready for first grade full time and would not hurt him to ease into first grade over the next few years
For me Dylan is on half back money and should be trying to understudy Moses and take Moses's job when Moses retires. That would then open up 6. Not sure if this is likely and maybe someone like Sanders would be a better fit at 7 - if we can get him, back from boring Canberra.
But if Blaize is good enough I am sure a place will become available - same as for Sanders
If the future for talagi is at fullback then he needs to be playing fullback in reserve grade not sitting on the bench in first grade.
Too right HKF! That's exactly what should be happening. Best for him and definitely best for team too.
Looks like the JA mistake all over again. You don't develop your game sitting on the bench for first grade if you are a half or a fullback with very limited experience to begin with.
Now now, BA knows best.
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