sharks2010
Dribbler
Always have to allow for viewers like wizard...
Official Siosifa Talakai
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Wiz
Jaws
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They watch me.. the virgins, groupies etc
So I've got to think you believe Talakai is as good a centre as ET?
If so, you are full retard.
No one can keep a straight face while saying that.
GF78
Hammerhead
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Yep, I was thinking the sam. There is a fine footy player in Trindall in 2 yard or so, but I am taking Tracey as the 14 During April / May 2022.
egg
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Ennis FOX - I too did say pre game that Gagai should be more worries about Talakai , rather than the other way round
2. Siosifa Talakai
Siosifa Talakai - play him anywhere and he just seems to be unstoppable at the moment.
In the modern game of rugby league where HIA’s have become so prevalent and sin bins can cause such disruption, to have the luxury of a bloke who’s built the way he is, has the speed and the ability to break tackles was just sensational.
Talakai is able to do that in various positions whether it be back row, centre, lock, you could play him in the middle if you have to.
Dare I say it, he could probably handle the wing the way he’s going in the centres.
It was just unreal to watch him take on Dane Gagai, who in this very column a few weeks ago I spoke about how important and how good Gagai’s been for the Knights and how he was one of the form players in the competition.
I’m not sure whether it was a personal challenge that he set for himself, but he was almost possessed.
He was just a man on a mission in Round 4 up against one of the strongest defensive centres in the competition.
Gagai just couldn’t handle him and his form for Cronulla has been sensational.
2. Siosifa Talakai
Siosifa Talakai - play him anywhere and he just seems to be unstoppable at the moment.
In the modern game of rugby league where HIA’s have become so prevalent and sin bins can cause such disruption, to have the luxury of a bloke who’s built the way he is, has the speed and the ability to break tackles was just sensational.
Talakai is able to do that in various positions whether it be back row, centre, lock, you could play him in the middle if you have to.
Dare I say it, he could probably handle the wing the way he’s going in the centres.
It was just unreal to watch him take on Dane Gagai, who in this very column a few weeks ago I spoke about how important and how good Gagai’s been for the Knights and how he was one of the form players in the competition.
I’m not sure whether it was a personal challenge that he set for himself, but he was almost possessed.
He was just a man on a mission in Round 4 up against one of the strongest defensive centres in the competition.
Gagai just couldn’t handle him and his form for Cronulla has been sensational.
Gards
Jaws
not keeping a straight face is due your Tourette's
BurgoShark
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Perhaps they were watching when Newcastle had the ball and Gagai went through him like a Singapore oyster omelette - or maybe they just understand that for Talakai to get the ball in space against a retreating defensive line it first requires winning the ruck and moving the ball through 2-3 spine players to get to him.
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
So does that mean a centre can never be the best player on the park?
snowman
Total gronk
christ you talk some utter bollocks sometimes
Gards
Jaws
I don't think anyone was as dominant or had as big an impact on that game than Talakai and there were ALOT of excellent Sharks performances in that game. No one really suggested Sifa was perfect but he was more or less unplayable in attack. Half our points came from his direct involvement and was unlucky not to get his first try due the obstruction call
The bloke is a human boulder, not built or with the genuine mobility of a centre, he's being played out of position, ofcourse he gunna miss a tackle or 2 and having help from players around him doesn't detract from his invidual peformance, it's a team game, Sifa aint gunna do it all himself
I know you haven't voted in the 321 yet, who do you think was better and do you have a graph to support this viewpoint?
If you thought a lot of his good runs came as a direct result of great passes from one of the spine that’d be one thing but not sure you can hold ‘general ruck speed’ against him, or that other people pass the ball at times.
Certainly great work by others contributed to his success, just like great work by him contributes to them being able to succeed.
BurgoShark
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I'm not holding it against him. I'm saying that others were responsible for creating the time and space for him and that played a bigger part. The Sharks won that game because of ruck dominance and not because a centre had some great touches in space. Sure he was great with ball in hand - but there were several others who were outstanding with the ball AND in defence and that in my opinion contributed more to the win.
I'm aware that most people see the game differently than I do. That's fine with me. It's not surprising to me at all that the big guy who makes barnstorming runs gets the accolades. That's how most people see footy. Talakai was certainly one of the best performers so a majority vote for MoM is a fair result. It doesn't mean the minority is wrong or out of touch though.
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But you can't give 3 points to 'others' for ruck speed. If it was team effort and he was a beneficiary then so be it, if you felt it was the effort of one or two in particular enough to earn the votes then that's fine.
You can't hold what didn't happen against him, Knights didn't run any points through his edge and he was marked by probably the form centre of the comp.
Not saying you have to vote for him (or that he singlehandedly won the whole game by himself and was perfect) but the whole team playing well and him theoretically playing worse if the team played worse isn't a great argument against why he deserves it.
He definitely did benefit from our team overall winning their battles.
Sir Chadley
Jaws
At the end of the day, in the fullness of time, at the appropriate juncture, Burgo can vote for whoever he wants.
BurgoShark
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Agreed. I can't say "the entire forward pack" but if I think there was one or two whose individual contribution was outstanding I will pick them.
So the Knights make 30 metres on a half break after a poor miss and I can't take that in to consideration because they didn't score from it? It still happened.
That's not my argument. My argument is that other individuals contributed almost as much in attack while being much better in defence.
Sure but you didn't say he leaked 30m one time you said 'His defence I can hold against him. It was poor. If the Sharks lose the ruck the Knights run 20 points through Talakai's edge.' And that stuff didn't happen.
I'm much more on board with your post now you've made some changes to it.
While I am comfortable with giving my three to Talakai for a dominant offensive performance over one of the form opposition I definitely agree the good work of a lot of other players contributed to it. No issue with you holding their contribution in higher regard.
BurgoShark
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Yeah - fair enough. I thought better of that and changed it. A better way to put it would have been that his defensive misses had the potential to cost the team a lot of points. Maybe the players who covered up for him deserve some credit there rather than just saying "oh well, he's playing out of position and up against a good player so let's forgive him".
Sure, everyone played very well, great team effort. Other players absolutely deserve credit also.
You need points to win so a lot of people will prioritise attaching output over defensive quality, some basically only care about offensive output.
In that game with how good his offensive output was I didn't hold his defence against him.
At this stage I am happy for him to hold the jersey and hopefully build his reads and confidence and iron out any defensive kinks.
If he starts getting torn up for points (directly or indirectly) too often I will turn on him.