NRL 2024: Why Blaize Talagi isn’t committing to Parramatta, Rabbitohs consider bringing James Tamou out of retirement | Sport Confidential
He’s a versatile young gun who could star for the Eels in years to come, but there’s a reason Blaize Talagi hasn’t committed his future to Parramatta yet. See the full SPORT CONFIDENTIAL.
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Blaize Talagi started the year at fullback in the NSW Cup. He made his NRL debut at centre in round three before spending time at five-eighth and then switching back to the interchange bench.
He then had another stint in NSW Cup at five-eighth and now finds himself deputising for the injured Clint Gutherson at fullback on Friday night against the Brisbane Broncos in a game that will either ease or heap pressure on the Eels and their coach Brad Arthur.
At the same time that he is being shunted from one position to the next – he has already played four positions through 10 weeks this season – Talagi is deliberating over a future that could see him leave the Eels at the end of the season.
The club has been trying to knock over a new deal for the 18-year-old and Arthur insisted on Thursday that Talagi wants to stay. What makes it difficult is there is no clear path to first grade.
Halves Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses are locked up long term. Last year the club introduced Talagi to legendary Eels centre Steve Ella but any hope of playing the position seemingly went out the window when the club brought in Zac Lomax.
His one hope may be at fullback given Parramatta have made no secret of their plans to explore alternative ways to use Gutherson. However, that would mean a switch for Gutherson and there is no obvious role given the centres are occupied.
It makes this weekend all the more important for Talagi as he looks to prove he is the fullback of the future at the club.
Other clubs are watching closely. Some, no doubt, could offer him the chance to play five-eighth, a role that is more familiar. Or centre for that matter.
The Eels hope they can convince Talagi to stay and a clear path to first grade would help their cause.
“All the indications from us are that he is the future of the club,’ Arthur said on Thursday.
“I’ve had a conversation with Blaize – he’s only a kid, so I try not to have too many of these conversations with him and just keep them footy related – but the only question that I’ve asked him is: Does he want to be at the club?
“He told me he does. That’s half the battle. The club’s been working with his management trying to get something sorted. Both parties have been working hard at that.
“He wants to be here, so it will sort itself out.’
RABBITOHS CONSIDER BRINGING JAMES TAMOU OUT OF RETIREMENT
South Sydney are on the immediate lookout for an outside back while they are also considering throwing James Tamou a surprise NRL lifeline as their injury situation worsens.
The Rabbitohs are keen on adding an outside back for the rest of the 2024 season after Isaiah Tass became the latest long-term injury for the club.
While their backline stocks have been severely depleted, they are also struggling up-front. That led to the club considering a call-up to Tamou who since retiring from the NRL last season has been playing for Townsville in the Queensland Cup. Tamou is understood to be the next cab off the rank should they suffer any more injuries to their forward stocks.
The Rabbitohs have a feeder club relationship with Townville and as a result called in Gehamat Shibasaki from Queensland and he will play against the Dragons on Saturday night.
Tamou could prove to be the steadying influence the Rabbitohs need to help navigate through the back end of the season. It is understood that if he is asked he would answer an SOS call from the Rabbitohs.
The ex-NSW and Kangaroos prop has started eight games for the Blackhawks this year and is averaging about 39 minutes per game.
The 35-year-old played the last of his 308 top grade games for the Cowboys in round four in 2023.
Meanwhile, Rabbitohs utility Michael Chee Kam admits he has no idea where his future lays as he prepares for a new coach to take over at the Rabbitohs next season.
Chee Kam is among a host of players whose contracts finish at the end of October – deals for Dean Hawkins, Isaiah Tass, Isaac Thompson, Leon Te Hau and Taane Milne also expire in less than six months.
Seven-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett is expected to join the Rabbitohs and Chee Kam hopes he is part of his plans.
“With a new coach coming in I just control what I can control and play good footy,” Chee Kam said.
“Hopefully I play good footy and he likes what he sees.”
Chee Kam has made five appearances for the Rabbitohs this season, scoring one try and filling in where necessary. He was brought to the club by Jason Demetriou but would relish the opportunity to play under Bennett.
“They are saying he is a bit of a character – they love him,” Chee Kam said.
“Obviously he has done a lot of great things. Whoever it is, hopefully he likes me. It has been tough but I reckon always in life when you face a bit of adversity, especially as a group, it brings you closer together.
“It hasn’t shown on the field yet but I feel like we are even tighter as a group. JD is the one who got me here.
“I am grateful to JD for bringing me to this amazing club.”
JOSH SCHUSTER SPOTTED WITH DRAGONS POWERBROKER
The reason for Josh Schuster’s secret trip to the Gold Coast can be revealed – and it had nothing to do with any Queensland based clubs.
Tongues were wagging during the course of the weekend when Schuster and his agent Mario Tartak were spotted flying from Sydney to the Gold Coast. The link was obvious – the Titans are crying out for some signings and Des Hasler handed Schuster his NRL debut at the Sea Eagles.
But that wasn’t the case. Nor were there any meetings with Brisbane, Dolphins or the travelling Storm.
Instead the action happened at Byron Bay on Sunday where Schuster and Tartak were seeing having lunch with TripADeal founder Norm Black at the swanky Balcony Bar. It was also Schuster’s 23rd birthday on Sunday.
While Black is a powerbroker at St George Illawarra, we’re told he was not there in any official capacity for the Dragons, instead he is looking to mentor and support Schuster who has earmarked an NRL return at some point. That relationship is expected to continue in the coming months as Schuster builds a support system around him.
We’re told Schuster has already dropped significant weight and will step up his training program in the coming weeks with a potential pre June-30 move. Others close to him have floated the prospect to Schuster that he might be best served training for the rest of the season before eyeing a comeback in 2025.
Schuster wants to return to five-eighth and will shop himself as a half to any new club.
He officially parted ways with the Sea Eagles last month after the parties negotiated a pay out of his deal which was due to expire at the end of 2027.
FLASHBACK
Benji Marshall made backpage news on this day 10 years ago. Marshall announced his surprise signing for St George Illawarra after his ill-fated rugby union stint. “I definitely have a point to prove,” Marshall said.
OUT OF THE NEST
Manly will remain in Queensland leading into their Magic Round clash next week. The entire squad will be based at Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast following their clash against the Dolphins on Thursday night. They play Brisbane next Friday night.
FINE PRINT
Dane Gagai has only received a guaranteed one year deal to remain at the Knights after rejecting a two-year offer from the Roosters. Interestingly, Gagai’s deal includes the potential for the second season however there is a mutual option. Meaning both parties must agree for Gagai to play on in 2026.
DE BELIN EYES UK MOVE
Jack de Belin’s 14-year career at St George Illawarra may be coming to an end as Super League clubs eye off the former NSW State of Origin forward for next season.
De Belin, who made his first grade debut for the Dragons in 2011, has appeared on the radar of English clubs as he edges towards the end of his contract, which expires at the end of the year.
The Dragons have a handful of players who are off contract at the end of the season and coach Shane Flanagan has some big decisions to make as he weighs up the make-up of his side in 2025.
De Belin is among the biggest given his tenure and profile at the club. Sport Con understands the Dragons haven’t put a line through him just yet, but they are yet to table an offer and English clubs have begun cycling.
De Belin, at the age of 33, has played 214 games for the Dragons and appeared in three games for NSW in 2018.
MOYLAN READY FOR NRL COMEBACK
Former Penrith and Cronulla five-eighth Matt Moylan is believed to be eyeing off a return to the NRL.
Moylan played 191 games for the Panthers and Sharks before packing his bags and joining Leigh in the English Super League.
However, NRL clubs have been alerted to his potential interest in a return – he is one year into a two year deal he signed with Leigh late last year.
TIGERS SEND OUT SOS TO HELP INJURED STAR
Wests Tigers will consider sounding out experts in Australia and potentially overseas as they look to help gifted five-eighth Latu Fainu overcome the hamstring problems that continue to plague his career.
The prodigiously-talented Fainu is facing another stint on the sidelines after injuring his hamstring last weekend, continuing a run of outs for the teenager that has limited him to only four first grade games this season.
The Tigers want to ensure it doesn’t continue and are expected to investigate following the path of other clubs by sending Fainu to local and overseas experts to help resolve his issues.
When Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic struggled with hamstring problems, the Sea Eagles sent him to specialists in Melbourne and then in America – he was one of several NRL players to work with renowned trainer Bill Knowles – to facilitate his rehabilitation.
The Tigers still have high hopes for the 18-year-old Fainu, something chief executive Shane Richardson made clear this week.
“Latu hasn’t had a lot of luck of late but everyone can see how talented he is,” Richardson said.
“As a club we believe in him and if we can do anything to fast-track his recovery, we will consider it.”
SPOTTED
NRL stars Damien Cook and Victor Radley were joined by former Origin players Greg Florimo and Darryl Brohman at North Sydney Oval on Thursday morning to help promote the Beer Footy Food Festival.
The festival coincides with the NSW Cup’s version of Magic Round on May 18 and 19 at North Sydney Oval. North Sydney and South Sydney will compete for the Mario Fenech Cup when the teams clash.
TITLE FIGHT
George Kambosos will take on legendary Ukrainian Vasyl Lomachenko on Sunday in Perth for the IBF lightweight world title.
The 36-year-old Lomachenko is a superstar of the sport with unrivalled amateur pedigree – he only lost one of his 397 fights – and a training regime unlike any other in world sport.
He is almost as famous for his training activities as his boxing history. Over the years, Lomachenko has incorporated street skating and juggling into his training as well as handstands and tennis, which he often plays on his own by sprinting around the net to return his own lobs.
He has also become accustomed to holding his breath. Stories abound of Lomachenko training in an Olympic-sized pool, swimming one length and then taking a single breath on his way back.
He finishes the training by submerging himself underwater and holding his breath. A few years back he was asked for his record.
Four minutes and 20 seconds was the response.
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