Change of Tak
When his Tigers deal went belly up, Brad Takairangi fled to Bali...kick-starting a bizarre sequence of events that led him to Parra
By Steven Russo
IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE best holiday ever.
When new Tigers coach Jason Taylor decided to pulled (pull?) the plug on Brad Takairangi's three-year deal with the club, the underrated centre fled to Bali to get away from it all. Call it fate. Call it serendipity. But hopping on that place proved to be the best thing Takairangi has ever done.
Little did he know it, but Brad Arthur as also in Bali at the same time. After a chance meeting with the Parra coach, Takairangi was on his way to becoming an Eel.
"After thinking I was going to be at the Tigers for three years, it (the Tigers' backflip) was pretty tough," Takairangi tells RLW. "I had already moved down to Sydney when 'JT' became the coach. My manager (Gavin Orr) called me with a bit of bad news."
"I got away for a week in Bali, just to get me head right, and funnily enough I got to meet up with Brad. I didn't know he was over there until my manager told me. I just met up with him at my hotel for a chat but as soon as I spoke to him, I was keen to get over to Parra."
"I had heard nothing but good things about him and that impression didn't change when I met him. He was really confident with what he said and told me that he could help me with my game if I was willing to buy into what he's building there."
"It was probably the best thing that's happened to me."
It was a strange turn of events but considering the past few years Takairangi's experienced, he should be used to surprises by now. In February 2013 - less than a month before the season kick-off - he was moved on by the Roosters so they could fit former Test forward Luke O'Donnell into their squad. The Cronulla Caringbah junior found a home at the Titans and after a strong 2013 season, he had an explosive start to 2014, providing plenty of spark at right centre as Gold Coast stunned the pundits by winning six of their opening eight games.
While the Titans fell away to finish 14th, Takairangi's reputation was only enhanced. Although he was happy on the Glitter Strip, salary cap constraints again forced him out.
"We didn't want to move...but in the end it came down to what was best for my family and I think moving to Sydney definitely was the right decision," says Takairangi, whose father Louis playing three games on the wing for the Eels in 1987.
"My last two years up at the Gold Coast were really good for my career. It was such a nice spot up there...we didn't have to worry about the traffic, my little one (daughter Kahlia-Mia) was in pre-school up there. I definitely didn't leave on bad terms. I got along with 'King' (Titans coach Neil Henry). But to be back home with my family around me, I'm much happier."
After singing with the Eels, Takairangi didn't have much time to settle in to his new surroundings before he was back on a plane, this time for Parra's pre-season training camp in Seattle.
The 25-year-old admits he was completely taken aback by the sheer size of the training venues offered to both professional and collegiate gridiron players in the States.
"The trip was a real eye-opener," he continues. "We got to experience the facilities available to the (University of Washington) Huskies and the Seattle Seahawks. That was awesome. The Huskies are just a college team but their gym is probably bigger than Parramatta Stadium."
"Their fields are definitely a lot better than we're used to training on here in Australia. Our favourite was definitely the Huskies' gym. They were training on the field and they had these big speakers to pump their music through while training. I think some some of the boys are definitely keen to get that here for our fitness sessions!"
Last year Takairangi was rewarded for his good form with selection in New Zealand's train-on squad for the Four Nations. After missing the final cut, making his test debut with the Kiwis is a definite target in 2015.
"It's a bit of a cliché but it's every young Kiwi's dream to put on the black-and-white jumper, and even though I was born here in Australia, I've been brought up as a little Maori kid by my parents," he says.
"Hopefully if I can be more consistent this year I can have a crack, but first and foremost I have to be in that starting team for Parramatta come round one. We've got Beau Champion, Ryan Morgan and Vai Toutai who can all play centre, so I'll certainly have my hands full."[/quote]
Parramatta Eels Pre-season Report Card
Overall Grade: B
Backs: B-
Jarryd Hayne is an enormous loss - obviously - but in spite of this Parramatta still have a handy backline. Will Hopoate has experience playing fullback from his Manly days, while Fijian sensation Semi Radradra provides plenty of spark on the flank. Brad Takairangi was in great form for the Titans last year and his versatility is also a big plus. If Chris Sandow and Corey Norman continue improving, Parra's attack will be slick.
Forwards: B+
Big, strong and mobile, the Eels' pack certainly looks the goods. Captain Tim Mannah and Junior Paulo make up a formidable front ow, while marquee buy Anthony Watmough is the perfect foil for the emerging back-rower Tepai Moeroa. Joseph Paulo and David Gower have improved immensely over the past few years, while hookers Nathan Peats and Isaac De Gois complement each other well. Then you've got the likes of Pauli Pauli ripping in off the bench. Scary!
Recruitment: B
Hayne's departure has freed up a lot of cash out Pirtek Stadium way and the Eels have opened the chequebook. Watmough and Takairangi are big coups, while Reece Robinson and Beau Champion are rock-solid competitors. It will be especially interesting to see how a slimmer Danny Wicks handles the rigours of first-grade football after four years out of the game.
Depth: B
While most of Parra's new signing aren't exactly superstars, they will add depth to a side that already has an incredible number of quality kids coming through the ranks. The likes of Richie Fa'aoso, Shannan McPherson (lol) and Cody Nelson should ensure Brad Arthur has plenty of cover in the engine room, while Englishman Ben Crooks join a squad chock-full of useful fringe players including Champion, Robinson, Bureta Faraimo, Justin Hunt and Luke Kelly.
Coaching: B+
When a seasoned representative player such as Anthony Watmough nominates you as the best coach he has ever played under, you must be doing something right. That's the massive rap the former Sea Eagle paid Brad Arthur on his first day at the Eels - and so far Arthur is making all the right moves. In 2014, the rookie coach lifted the Eels to ninth position, their best finish since 2009.
- Panthers: A- (Backs: A, Forwards: A, Recruitment: C+, Depth: A, Coaching: A)
- Rabbitohs: A- (Backs: A-, Forwards: A-, Recruitment: B+, Depth: B+, Coaching: A)
- Broncos: B+ (Backs: B+, Forwards: A, Recruitment: A, Depth: B, Coaching: A+)
- Bulldogs: B+ (Backs: B+, Forwards: A, Recruitment: B, Depth: B-, Coaching: A)
- Cowboys: B+ (Backs: B, Forwards: B+, Recruitment: C+, Depth: A-, Coaching: B)
- Roosters: B+ (Backs: B+, Forwards: B+, Recruitment: C+, Depth: B, Coaching: A)
- Eels: B (Backs: B-, Forwards: B+, Recruitment: B, Depth: B, Coaching: B+)
- Knights: B (Backs: B, Forwards: B-, Recruitment: B-, Depth: B+, Coaching: B)
- Sea Eagles: B (Backs: A+, Forwards: B-, Recruitment: C, Depth: C, Coaching: B+)
- Sharks: B (Backs: C+, Forwards: B+, Recruitment: B+, Depth: B-, Coaching: B)
- Storm: B (Backs: B, Forwards: B+, Recruitment: B, Depth: B-, Coaching: A)
- Warriors: B (Backs: B+, Forwards: B, Recruitment: C+, Depth: A-, Coaching: B)
- Dragons: B- (Backs: B+, Forwards: C+ Recruitment: C, Depth: B-, Coaching: B)
- Raiders: C+ (Backs: B-, Forwards: C+, Recruitment: B-, Depth: C, Coaching: B)
- Titans: C+ (Backs: C+, Forwards: B+, Recruitment: B-, Depth: C, Coaching: B)
- Wests-Tigers: C+ (Backs: B, Forwards: B-, Recruitment: C-, Depth: C-, Coaching: B)
RLW, Pgs 28-29, 12/01/15
Replies
Thanks 40/20.
That's a pretty positive wrap for the eels by RLW?
Did you find the Mole 'scoop' which is apparently there?
I thumbed through today's edition champ but there was nothing to be seen regarding the scoop. Given that RLW don't usually release their magazine on Monday, perhaps they are going to have a double release this week (with the second coming on their traditional day of Thursday)? Not really sure otherwise.
Thanks.
It's by no means a coincidence that the two best scores are COACH and FORWARDS.
After watching the 2014 GF I believe we are on the right track thanks to Brad Arthur.
The A Tier of coaching is occupied by Cleary, Maguire, Bennett (the only A+, despite his poor recent record), Hasler, Robinson, Bellamy. All barring Cleary have won a legal premiership (even Bellamy, whom I despise) so given that qualification it would be a pretty bold statement to slot BA in there. Cleary has certainly done a good job with rebuilding Penrith but in my opinion, it speaks volumes of the fairytale story they want to keep pushing in relation to the Panthers to include him in that elite company.
More importantly than any rating doled out by RLW, Brad Arthur commands plenty of respect from the wider player market. I know everyone is still waiting on a big marquee signing, even after Watmough, but gone are the days of managers and players simply using our club as a means of padding a deal elsewhere. Brad Arthur is a coach that players are keen to come and play for.
They went exceptionally easy on the coaches. No one scored worse than a B.
For whatever reason, Stuart is a protected species in the eyes of the media but at the very least his reputation is mud with any League supporter who knows anything.
Not sure why we would go from 10th to 7th without Hayne, but I certainly hope so. Not having Allgood, Mossop, McPherson and FFMM means we are missing a lot of depth and experience in the forwards. Hopefully Fa'aoso gets the final clearance and he is not suspended for the domestic violence incidence around the time he broke his neck. Maybe the time he spent out of the game with his neck is regarded as his suspension?
It is a bit of the changing of the guard with so many Holden Cup players moving into the seniors at the same time. I don't recall in the modern game so many u20's from the same team moving up at the same time - Pauli, Moeroa, Pritchard, Goodall, Folau, Tui, Lavaka and Matterson at a minimum. May also be a couple more former Holden Cup players playing with the Wenty Ron Massey Cup team. The average age of our NSW Cup team will be a lot lower this season.
I guessing that you are mucking around.
Can't replace the best player in the game and expect to be a better team. I think Manly, Roosters and Souths will slip due to the players they have lost but I still expect them to be in the top 8 in front of us.
Both the Sharks and Knights have very strong squads and will be pushing for top 8 spots if they don't have a bad run with injuries and I expect the teams above us from last year will be above us again.
Although, I don love your 1eyed view FC.
From memory he was convicted of the malicious damage regarding ripping the front door off the hinges of their house. In the end I think he was convicted of 1 of 4 charges. As you know the NRL take a very dim attitude to domestic related violence.
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