NewsBite

Queensland Country flyer Jamie-Jerry Taulagi knows he must improve talk to secure Reds spot

JAMIE-Jerry Taulagi’s dancing feet won him a Super Rugby contract but he knows improved communication will help him keep it.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 18: JJ Taulagi of Queensland Country makes a break during the round five National Rugby Championship match between Queensland Country and the Greater Sydney Rams at Ballymore Stadium on September 18, 2014 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 18: JJ Taulagi of Queensland Country makes a break during the round five National Rugby Championship match between Queensland Country and the Greater Sydney Rams at Ballymore Stadium on September 18, 2014 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

FULLBACK contender Jamie-Jerry Taulagi is studying communication to press his claims for a back three spot at the Queensland Reds next year.

Taulagi must improve on his early, jittery, Super Rugby appearances if he is to become more than a training speed-bump for prized signing Karmichael Hunt.

While his dazzling footwork, slick hands and booming kicks are what earned him a Reds contract last year, smarter decisions in defence are what will earn him more opportunities at Super Rugby level.

Taulagi has been picking the brain of coach, and former fullback, Richard Graham to learn the more subtle requirements of the job.

“Rich has been helping me a lot,” Taulagi said. “I need to work on defence, and communication between me and the wingers.

“It’s been working. A little chat can go a long way.”

Finding his voice has proven trickier than Taulagi expected.

The 21-year-old is the classic rags-to-Reds story, having lobbed unannounced at University training midway through 2012.

He has not progressed through Queensland’s traditional pathways of schools, underage and academy squads.

Instead, the quiet former Aucklander was plucked from club rugby and asked to ignore his inexperience to fill an important decision-making role.

“It’s been tough. I’m real loud off the field but on the field I’m a bit shy,” he said.

The National Rugby Championship arrived just in time for Taulagi who scored the matchwinning try last week for Queensland Country against Greater Sydney Rams.

It was been the stepping stone for him to rediscover his confidence and he is already plotting the demise of his Reds teammates in Sunday’s derby against Brisbane City at Ballymore.

Although the NRC is a new competition, there is already a healthy rivalry brewing between the two Queensland camps.

“There’s a few of the Country boys who know how to get into their heads,” Taulagi said.

“The City boys have their little groups and we have our groups

“It’s good to get the rivalry going.”

The winning captain of Sunday’s game will for the first time raise the Andy Purcell Cup, named after the late QRU Life Member who graced the game with more than 50 years of service — first as a player, then a referee, a coach and also as an administrator.

City coach Nick Stiles expects the intensity to be similar to that of Queensland versus New South Wales battles.

“There’s nothing like a grudge match,’’ he said.

“I came through as a player at the Reds when there was always a chip on our shoulder when we played the Waratahs.

“Country will turn up with a point to prove.’’

Originally published as Queensland Country flyer Jamie-Jerry Taulagi knows he must improve talk to secure Reds spot

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/rugby/queensland-reds/queensland-country-flyer-jamiejerry-taulagi-knows-he-must-improve-talk-to-secure-reds-spot/news-story/887d4628649a962d618d1ac96ec3bdec