Official Siosifa Talakai

[bort]

It was more about the Sharks forwards completely dominating the ruck than it was about either of those things.


We did for one half in a season of footy.

People bang on like Talakai put the team on his back ffs. It's total bullshit. If defenders are backpedaling, it's not because they are scared. It's because they don't have numbers and the play the ball was too fast for them to adjust.

I actually think Talakai has been better this year than last year.

I think at least one of the DCE efforts may have been fear, from memory he just kind of runs alongside him and doesn't attempt to close the gap haha

I actually read something today which said Wilton was tackling at 90% which I think given his age and experience is quite good. But yes he has work to do.

Yeah in general play he is solid, it's on the line when a backline movement is targeting runners around him and Moylan to try and create a 3 on 2 further out that he needs to most improve.

Sometimes he hovers too long on the decoy, or commits to a decoy when someone else from inside has them, and then Moylan can't safely slide as he isn't sure if Wilton is coming, and then Talakai hovers between his man and Moylans. And then either his man blasts past him to score because he can't adjust in time or Ronnie comes in and the winger scores and we say goddamn Talakai or goddamn it Ronnie stay on your wing.
Famously a tough defensive position to be in - hence why so many teams for so many years run backline movements designed to create these situations.

Pretty sure I've mentioned it before but look who Bennett prioritised for Dolphins - Storms two key edge defenders to try and give his backline of fringe nrl players a chance to stop anything.

 

[HaroldBishop]

That Manly game will be a curse for Sifa for the next few years. He's going to be held against that standard as what he can achieve. When in reality, it was just as much about a shocking defender as it was about him being good.

Pretty funny how some expect those stats every week.

 

[Proud Shark]

It was more about the Sharks forwards completely dominating the ruck than it was about either of those things.

People bang on like Talakai put the team on his back ffs. It's total bullshit. If defenders are backpedaling, it's not because they are scared. It's because they don't have numbers and the play the ball was too fast for them to adjust.

I actually think Talakai has been better this year than last year.

Yeah don't disagree with any of that. Especially agree with the bold. You could easily interchange my comment of defender with defense as a whole. Manly were putrid in that half and we were powering through them. My intention was more around discussing that stat line re performance than necessarily him producing it solo.

 

[Blue_Eyes84]

Has Talakai done enough for an NSW recall? or never again after last year?

3 Talakai 4 Mitchell. I could see that.

 

[Tiger Shark]

Has Talakai done enough for an NSW recall? or never again after last year?

3 Talakai 4 Mitchell. I could see that.

I think his cards are marked for a bit, he was poorly used in the first place but can’t seem them picking him for a while.

 

[CrazyMatt]

Has Talakai done enough for an NSW recall? or never again after last year?

3 Talakai 4 Mitchell. I could see that.

Ah no.

He’d be well down the list with Tommy Turbo, Campbell Graham, Matt Burton and Stephen Crichton all in front of him.

 

[Deleted member 2543]

Ah no.

He’d be well down the list with Tommy Turbo, Campbell Graham, Matt Burton and Stephen Crichton all in front of him.

Yeah. If you made a list of all of the guys who are actually playing left centre week to week in the NRL he is near the top of it. Once you factor in guys player other spots who could be picked there, he gets bumped down.

 

[Western Sharkie]

I think his cards are marked for a bit, he was poorly used in the first place but can’t seem them picking him for a while.

Yep. Filter had NFI on how to use Sifa which meant he was underused and Ineffective which reflected poorly on him (unfairly).
Can’t see Sifa getting another opportunity just yet when factoring in the likes of TommyT and Trell that are likely to come right back into centre contention.

 

[Deleted member 2543]

rt

Yep. Filter had NFI on how to use Sifa which meant he was underused and Ineffective which reflected poorly on him (unfairly).
Can’t see Sifa getting another opportunity just yet when factoring in the likes of TommyT and Trell that are likely to come right back into centre contention.

I guess it was just the way the game went. Nobody got hurt. I could see a 3 forwards + Sifa bench being quite useful as long as you have guys through the lineup who can cover injuries to halves and hooker. Sifa gives you injury cover at 3 spots, or an extra 15-minutes of power in the middle.

If you pick a “14” bench utility, Sifa becomes less valuable.

 

[andrew's_sharks]

rt
I guess it was just the way the game went. Nobody got hurt. I could see a 3 forwards + Sifa bench being quite useful as long as you have guys through the lineup who can cover injuries to halves and hooker. Sifa gives you injury cover at 3 spots, or an extra 15-minutes of power in the middle.

If you pick a “14” bench utility, Sifa becomes less valuable.

Exactly. If Sifa is selected it really is as a bench forward and centre depth. Can't see it though.

 

[HaroldBishop]

No way I'd be picking Turbo, has been average this year. Clearly not healthy.

Has to be Graham.

 

[Sir Chadley]

No way I'd be picking Turbo, has been average this year. Clearly not healthy.

Has to be Graham.

Yes, I only watched the Kayo Mini but he made no impression on chasing Cobbo for his third try and didn’t seem to put much effort in.

He’s a shadow of his former self, which is sad as he has been a class player.

 

[ben]

Ah no.

He’d be well down the list with Tommy Turbo, Campbell Graham, Matt Burton and Stephen Crichton all in front of him.

He’s ahead of all these guys on stats if you remove tries scored. Talakai may not score as often as these guys but he creates more statistically. My view is he is that he’s an out an out built state of origin if not this year then next. Defensively he’s not served to well by Matt Moylan. Moylan always stands off his marked player which creates a defensive hustle for Talakai.

 

[apezza]

He’s ahead of all these guys on stats if you remove tries scored. Talakai may not score as often as these guys but he creates more statistically. My view is he is that he’s an out an out built state of origin if not this year then next. Defensively he’s not served to well by Matt Moylan. Moylan always stands off his marked player which creates a defensive hustle for Talakai.

I'm worried he has done his dash for origin selection after what happened last year.

 

[bort]

Tried to run sideways with his open touch and hurt his shoulder getting tackled. All downhill from there

 

[ben]

That’s what I’m talking about.

 

[Deleted member T1]

I'm worried he has done his dash for origin selection after what happened last year.

Feel like freddy was partly to blame. Did he have him at second row in the second game and then 20 minutes at centre in game 3? Sifa had the whole state on his shoulders at that stage. I'd hope we see more of talakai than Fittler in the coming years.

 

[Super Impose]

Take a bow Sifa - loan hand ..

 

[Blue_Eyes84]

Great game

 

[JimBob]

One of the few shining lights from tonight.

Blinder of a game.