NRL 2022: The outside backs who left defenders in their wake
Before Siosifa Talakai and Kotoni Staggs were terrorising would-be defenders these men were leaving trails of destruciton in their wakes.
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We look back on players from the past known as rugby league wrecking balls, who could scatter the best defences like nine pins. Here are some of our favourites:
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MAL MENINGA
A monster of a man who had legs like tree trunks and for many of his opponents they may as well have tried to tackle a giant gum tree. Terrorised every opposition during an illustrious career that spanned a record four Kangaroo tours.
CHRIS CLOSE
Another rampaging Queenslander who was famous for the giving Eric Grothe that mighty backhander during the 1981 State of Origin series. Took every run like his life depended on it and had a burning hate for NSW.
MATT UTAI
Former Bulldogs winger only stood at 168cm, (5’6 in the old scale). But what he lacked in height he more than made up for with a brutal blend of power and speed. Scored two tries in Canterbury’s 2004 premiership victory.
NOEL CLEAL
Big “Crusher” hailed from the bush town of Warialda and was already a cult figure before he arrived in the big smoke. Started in the centres and finished in the back row. Was as hard to handle as any man who ever played the game.
ERIC GROTHE
Known as “Guru” and couldn’t he motor. Had size and speed and you won’t see a better solo try than the one he scored in the 1983 preliminary when the blockbusting Parramatta winger steamrolled through six Canterbury defenders.
OLSEN FILIPAINA
Known as “The Big O” and was the proud owner of rugby league’s inaugural Maori sidestep. Had a reputation of being “rocks and diamonds” in club footy but when they threw him a Kiwi jumper there were few more destructive players.
TANIELA TUIAKI
Was one of the most fearsome ball runners of his generation before a shocking ankle injury shattered his career and left him permanently disabled. Scored some memorable tries on the wing for the Tigers with a mix of power, speed and athleticism.
FREAKISH FOOTAGE OF ‘BABY’ TALAKAI UNEARTHED
It’s the rugby league experiment that has captivated the NRL this past month.
From the top level to grassroots, the positional switch has coaches wondering if they have a Siosifa Talakai equivalent in their squad.
But here is proof the seemingly overnight success of Talakai’s shift from back row to centre is no fluke — and has been a lifetime in the making as far as the man of the moment is concerned.
In the countdown to Thursday’s highly anticipated showdown between the Cronulla wrecking ball and Brisbane’s rampaging Kotoni Staggs, we have traced Talakai’s remarkable journey.
And with a NSW State of Origin jumper potentially riding on the outcome of the Talakai v Staggs battle, there is also talk Talakai’s impact could influence future recruitment from grassroots to NRL level.
We’ve already seen Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook waste no time following Craig Fitzgibbon’s lead by moving backrower David Fifita to the centres last week.
While that backfired initially on the Titans, looking further down the track there is every chance Talakai’s low-to-the-ground but powerful body shape could become the new prototype that the scouts go hunting to play in a position formerly dominated by those with Ferrari physiques.
It’s surprising to see Talakai’s height is listed at 178cm, which is just over 5’10” in the old scale. But he looks almost as wide as he is tall, tipping the scales at 100kg, which combined with his skill and speed makes him a phenomenal strike weapon.
But what must also be understood is that Talakai has not been manufactured to play his new position. Rather, centre has been his preferred spot since he was a boy starring for the Mascot Jets.
Put simply, running the ball was always his strength, and not just because of his sheer power but also his dancing feet and soft hands.
There is even video of Talakai playing an under-8s grand final, where he starts a run from the halfway line with a Benji Marshall goose step. From there, he tap dances, palms and bulldozes through defender after defender on a mesmerising charge.
“He beat about 20 to the tryline,” Jets secretary Andy Grey said with a laugh.
Former South Sydney player Darren Brown coached that team his own son Jaiden played in.
Incredibly, they went undefeated for 13 straight years.
That’s not just winning every grand final, but every single game they played.
The side also featured future NRL players Billy Magoulias and Reimis Smith, while often backing up from the age group below was Cameron Murray, Keaon Koloamatangi and Emre Guler. But, make no mistake, Talakai was the standout — mostly playing in the centres.
“What you see now is what he was doing back then,” Brown said. “His carries were strong and his defence was strong, and he was always quick and good on his feet.”
Robert Sait, another former Souths player, also coached Talakai.
“He was probably benching 85kg and squatting 110 when he was 15, 16,” Sait said. “Just loved football. I had them when they were 16 and we were training a couple of nights before the grand final and I said, ‘We’re finished, wrap it up now boys’.
“He grabbed the group, he was the captain, and he said, ‘No, we are not finished’.
“And he took them out to do extras. He was just the type of kid who wanted to be good.”
Which got him his start at Souths, where he debuted under Michael Maguire as a teenager in 2016, literally scoring with his very first touch in NRL.
“Willie Peters coached him in an SG Ball year where they made the grand final, funnily enough against Cronulla,” said Ben Rogers, now head of recruitment at Parramatta but formerly at Souths. “And he played centres.
“No one could stop him because he had the late feet that you are seeing now, and the fend, and the nice soft hands.
“And that is why he made his NRL debut so quickly, because he was a man, physically.
“When he played lower grades, they put him in the second row and he was carrying for 300-odd metres and post contact was 200-odd.
“Like, that was NYC and Cup, no one could stop him.
“And now he has found his feet and his legs again in the NRL, and he has got used to the speed, it doesn’t surprise me (how well he is going).”
Asked if Talakai’s success would change the club’s approach to recruitment, specifically for centres, Rogers explained it was not as simple as just going out and finding a player with Talakai’s special physique, athleticism and skillset at any local park.
“But I think the part that all clubs are guilty of is that you look at Sifa and think he is going to be an NRL backrower,” Rogers said.
“So let’s put him there now rather than keep him at centre and develop him through the grades and wait and be patient. We accelerate those guys now and you put them in the back row and you dull their brilliance.
“And you never ever get to see them as a centre again.
“And it is just probably through injuries that Fitzgibbon has given him a chance there now which is refreshing to see.”
And maybe that will be the biggest lesson all coaches learn from the Talakai experiment. That you should never treat every player like they’ve rolled off a production line.
Which takes us back to the influence his old coach Brown had on Talakai all those years ago, when he was the little boy with the Benji step.
Brown sent Talakai a message last week after his memorable display against Manly just to say well done and good luck. But it was Talakai’s response that showed clearly that he has not forgotten what created this wonderful story.
“Thank you daz, you didn’t play no small feat. Everything I’ve learnt was all of you champion. Your dedication to the game and craft has helped me tremendously and I wouldn’t be at the level I am if it weren’t for your guidance. Thank you legend.”
Too often it’s the people who put in all the work for free at the junior level, that has such a lasting impact on so many careers, that get so little recognition.
But this sums up perfectly why Talakai’s so-called overnight success has been a lifetime in the making.
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Originally published as NRL 2022: The outside backs who left defenders in their wake
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