NRL 2022: Why Blake Taaffe won’t be scared off by Latrell Mitchell’s giant shadow

Souths’ grand final fullback Blake Taaffe is under no illusions about where he stands in the fight for the Rabbitohs No.1 jumper and insists he will be fit for the Charity Shield.

Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook with rising rake Peter Mamouzelos. Photo: Rabbitohs

South Sydney young gun Blake Taaffe has declared fullback is his best position — but he would have no problem going from grand finalist to reserve grade when Latrell Mitchell returns from suspension.

It comes as the livewire youngster also revealed why he was never a legitimate challenger to fellow rookie Lachlan Ilias to take over from Adam Reynolds in the No.7 jumper this season.

Taaffe, 22, is only in his second week back in full training after undergoing off-season ankle surgery for an injury he carried through last season. But he maintains he will be ready for the Charity Shield to cover for Latrell if he gets selected.

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“I will be 100 per cent,” Taaffe said. “I feel like I am almost up to scratch with the boys, maybe only a couple of sessions behind. But I feel like I’m all good.”

But he’s also under no illusions he will only have until round three to stake his claim as to why Jason Demetriou should keep him in the top squad, potentially to fill Benji Marshall‘s vacated role on the bench.

Blake Taaffe was a more than capable fill in for Latrell Mitchell at fullback late last season. Picture: NRL Photos

Even though Taaffe had a meteoric rise last year, he says he will happily do whatever the coach and the team need from him, even if it means dropping out of the top squad.

“I am not really too fussed with where I play,” Taaffe said.

“I got a bit lucky towards the end of the year.

“Look, if I get a shot in the first two rounds to play fullback I am sure I will take it with both hands. After that I will be trying to push for the bench spot.

“But if that is not the case I have still got a lot of developing and a lot to learn.

“So if I have to go back down to NSW Cup I am not really too fussed about that.

“I think this year will be another big year for my development and just soak up as much as I can off Cody and Latrell and the older boys and just develop my game.

Blake Taaffe is likely to play fullback in the opening two rounds before Latrell Mitchell returns from suspension. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“Finishing off last year the way it did certainly put a lot of confidence in me going forward.

“It was just a great feeling to be able to play in my first grand final, and I am just even more hungry to get into another one. I hope we can do it this year.“

There had been some debate as to whether Taaffe could switch to the halves, but he made it clear he is not ready to be that chief playmaker (even though he played in the halves coming through Jersey Flegg).

“I think I could have got away with playing halfback in the 20s but, at this level, it is a lot more complicated,” he said. “To be honest, I think at this point in time, my best position is fullback going forward.

“But, if I was to slot into a ball playing/running five-eighth role, I am happy to do that.

“I don’t mind defending in the line.”

Taaffe is signed until the end of next season but has no intention of leaving.

With a strong family bond at the club, he also made a point that he is thankful that the Rabbitohs gave him a shot when other clubs didn’t rate him.

“I love it here,” he said. “It is pretty much a part of my family and when no one wanted me they brought me in. I can’t see myself leaving.”

Blake Taaffe is happy to play a utility role once Latrell Mitchell returns. Picture: Nigel Hallett

WHY COOK’S SUPRECOACH STOCK IS RISING

By Fatima Kdouh

Damien Cook is preparing to “express” his attacking running game on the field once again now that veteran halfback Adam Reynolds is no longer at the Redfern club and a rookie rake is nipping at his heels.

At the peak of his powers in 2018, Cook forced himself into the NSW Blues outfit and kept veteran hooker Robbie Farah out of the Rabbitohs side.

Cook averaged a career-high 90 metres per game in that year, which dipped to 43 metres in 2019, jumped back up to 63 metres in 2020 and dropped back to 43 metres last season.

Cook concedes playing in a spine with an established halves combination has blunted some of his attacking prowess.

Damien Cook has vowed to run more out of dummy half this season. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

But with a rookie halfback, likely to be Lachlan Illias, to line-up alongside Cody Walker, and a new coach in Jason Demetriou now in charge of running attacking structures, Cook is poised to return to the form that made him one the most dangerous dummy halves in the game.

“I look forward to the extra responsibility,” Cook said. “With Reno there and then Cody on the other side, your role as a hooker becomes really easy.

“It can be a bad thing [with established halves] because it can limit you. With Reno not there and me taking some responsibility back this season, I might be able to express my game a bit more again.

“We’ll see what happens. But there isn’t a lot we need to change in our side as a whole. A lot of us really understand our roles really well in this team at the moment.

“With the way the game is going, us middles know we have to tire out the defenders in front of us and create space for outside backs, we have some great backs that can move in open space. That’s our job.

“But I definitely have to take some responsibility back between myself and Cody.

“I’m going to enjoy the extra responsibility without Reno and helping the young half grow as a player and fit into our team as best he can.”

Cook, 30, has spent the pre-season working closely alongside his understudy, rising rake Peter Mamouzelos, who played three games after making his NRL debut last season.

The local junior is signed until the end of 2024 and is viewed as the future long-term hooking option at the club.

Cook is expecting Mamouzelos to start challenging him for the No.9 jumper.

Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook with rising rake Peter Mamouzelos. Picture: Rabbitohs Digital

“I’d like to think that we also test each other as well to bring out the best in both of us,” Cook said. “He’s going to play a lot of NRL, his natural talent is waiting to come out, he’ll play first grade easy.

“He just wants to learn, he’s a great little hooker. He’s brave and he’s strong in defence and he’s willing to learn and he wants to grow his game. I’m really enjoying working alongside him. He’s always happy to chat and ask questions, so we stick close to each other out.”

Cook also revealed the parting words from Wayne Bennett before the mastercoach coach officially signed off at the Rabbitohs after three season at the helm.

“I felt like he was really hard on me while he was here,” Cook said. “But that was for good reason, he wanted a response and wanted me to continue to grow as a player.

“He said he really enjoyed coaching me and that he knew what he was going to get. He knew I was always going to go out there and give my best. It was really good to hear from him.”