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
It's a worry that Gutho " wasn't able to train thru the week" hope it's not the unspeakable going on there.
With is injury history, he's probably having his training loads managed.
Yeah but not training all week ihas to be quite severe management Id imagine.
hope he is ok tonight.
How about he gets taught to tackle first
Blaize needs to be taken aside by Dylan Brown and be given a crash course on his tackling style, Dylan has the old style boots and all of Ron Coote , just beautiful to watch.
I can see that he's got plenty of raw talent but the way the club is carrying on, anyone would think he's the next coming of Jarryd Hayne.
He needs to cool his heels and develop his game in reserves and then BA can promote him. Until then he's taking a spot off someone who can do a better job IMO.
My thoughts exactly.
What i take from this story with BA, is that BA plans to be here long term?
I reckon BA has identified that Gutho is struggling to back up our halves and forwards when they make a half break or arm free for an offload. I suggest Talagi will be playing in the middle sniffing around for offloads.
Having to defend in the middle should stiffen up Blaize's defence. It's not a bad thing him getting use to the speed and physicality in 1st grade . It worked for Papenhauzen, Jerome Hughes, Munster, Hynes. I think bellyache has got a pretty sound philosophy bringing these sort of players through.
P.S how good was Lomax 2 point field goal. Another string to his bow. Tick ✅
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