Tommy Talau channels Wests’ best Tommy, Tommy Raudonikis, in stunning performance

Former Bulldogs junior Tommy Talau terrorised his old club in a two-try performance, while Manly’s premiership aspirations have taken a significant hit. MATCH REPORTS AND REACTION

Tommy Talau of the Tigers is tackled during the Round 7 NRL match between the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Wests Tigers at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney, Sunday, June 28, 2020. (AAP Image/Craig Golding) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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Wests have a new champion called Tommy.

Tommy Talau, the son of former Bulldogs star Willie, scored his first two NRL career tries in Wests Tigers 34-6 win over a floundering Canterbury at Bankwest Stadium on Sunday evening.

The last player named Tommy to create such heroics at Wests was the legendary Tom Raudonikis back in the 1970’s.

Aged 19, it was just Talau’s third NRL game.

And Wests Tigers hooker Harry Grant scored a try and enjoyed two try assists against Canterbury, the club which has attempted to sign him for the past two years – and may have another crack after this season.

Tommy Talau, a Moorebank Rams junior, captained Canterbury’s under 18s side which contested the 2018 SG Ball grand final. Offered big money to quit Belmore, Talau signed a development contract at Wests Tigers for 2019.

And that deal looks like proving gold. Talau’s second try – a mini miracle. With his body air-born over the sideline, he somehow managed to slam the ball down with his left hand in the left corner.

Tommy Talau of the Tigers had a blinder.

While young, Talau — under contract at Concord until the end of 2022 — has the promise and potential to equal the deeds of his father, who scored 38 tries in 101 games for Canterbury between 1998 and 2003.

Before 519 noisy fans, sponsors and members, Grant once again showed his special talents. He is Queensland Origin player-in-waiting.

On loan to Wests Tigers, Grant is under contract at Melbourne until the end of next season but has a contract clause stating he can leave the Storm after this year should Cam Smith play again in 2021.

Wests Tigers think they can retain Grant but Canterbury has attempted to sign him for the past years and will have another nibble at him after this season. Grant again showed his elusive promise, creating out of dummy half and ducking past three defenders to score a try.

Grant’s performance will only add to Canterbury’s hunger to sign the Rockhampton 22-year-old. Victory has pushed Wests Tigers into sixth position on the NRL ladder, Souths now drop out of the top eight.

Benji Marshall’s time as a reserve may well continue. Josh Reynolds enjoyed success against the team he once represented and the club he wanted to play with again earlier this season. It was Michael Maguire’s 100th win as an NRL coach.

MAY DAY FOR PAY

Pressure will again mount of Bulldogs coach Dean Pay again after Sunday’s night’s heavy loss. There is push from certain sections of the Bulldogs board to re-sign Pay but Sunday’s result wouldn’t have enhanced his chances.

Canterbury led 6-0 but conceded 34 straight points in what could only be described as a substandard performance. They sit last on the competition table.

Like his wing team-mate Talau, Wests Tigers’ David Nofoaluma scored twice to further heap misery on Pay’s Bulldogs. Canterbury winger Reimis Smith scored his 23rd try in 41 games – a stellar strike for a player in a struggling side.

Coach Dean Pay is under serious pressure.

HOPPA GONE, AIDEN BACK

Canterbury fullback Will Hopoate limped from the field in just the fifth minute. His left ankle became caught under his body weight when tackled by Wests Tigers forward Luke Garner.

Former Panther Dallin Watene-Zelezniak moved to fullback, Jeremy Marshall-King switched to right centre with Jack Cogger into dummy half. Hopoate limped directly into the dressing rooms and did not return. He later appeared in the Bulldogs dug-out wearing a moon boot.

Bulldogs prop Aiden Tolman started the match after missing the past two weeks through a COVID scare.

As part of a Bankwest Stadium directive to protect the playing surface, both sides completed pre-game warm-ups indoors and on the artificial turf sidelines.

FUMBLING DOGS

Canterbury conceded two first half tries – both due to clumsy hands.

Bulldogs halfback Brandon Wakeham dropped a loose ball allowing Grant to score before Canterbury centre Kerrod Holland fumbled a bomb which sent Talau over for his first NRL try. They were errors which must have shattered Pay.

BRITISH BULLDOG

British prop Luke Thompson arrived in Sydney from his two-week Melbourne COVID bubble on Sunday night and is expected at training on Tuesday.

Thompson travelled the Hume Highway with Bulldogs development and pathways manager, David Hamilton. Aware of social distancing issues at airports, Canterbury felt driving was safer than flying.

It is understood Thompson will stay at a temporary Airbnb around Cronulla until he secures his long term residence and location.

Thompson will have his fitness monitored this week but there are no guarantees he will be chosen for the game against Souths this Sunday at 6.30pm.

MATCH REPORT: Why humiliated Manly miss stats beast Turbo

Des Hasler didn’t want to use Tom Trbojevic’s absence as an excuse.

And he didn’t want to blame the lacklustre effort in the humiliating 40-22 shock loss to Cronulla on the fact the Sea Eagles were backing up from last round’s gutsy but energy sapping victory over Canberra.

But the reality is those two factors were massive on the lopsided scoreboard in Gosford, as well as the absence of the inform but now injured five-eighth Dylan Walker.

And with Trbojevic and Walker out for at least five more rounds, it is also going to have a significant impact on Manly’s premiership aspirations going forward.

While you can’t win a comp this early in the season, missing the top four almost certainly cruels any chance when the finals roll around.

But for the Sharks, the seven tries to four victory landed back-to-back wins for the first time this season, with Cronulla’s star trio of Shaun Johnson, Matt Moylan and Chad Townsend all firing.

Sea Eagles dejected during their Round 7 loss to Sharks.

JOHNSON FIGHTS BACK

Backing up their desperate win over Canterbury last round, the Sharks started fast to grab a 18-6 halftime lead.

And they didn’t slow down after the break with Johnson, Townsend and Moylan all having a big contribution.

Townsend had three try assists while Johnson had two, taking his season tally to 10, the NRL’s best.

It was only two weeks ago that Cooper Cronk was leading the criticism of Johnson when he accused him of “firing blanks” and the call went out for the star Kiwi to be dropped.

But after another classy effort, John Morris was full of praise.

“You always expect so much out of Shaun,” Morris said.

“He is a fantastic player who has shown what he can do.

“Sometimes we expect it every time he touches the ball.

“But if you look at his stats compared to other halves in the NRL he is right up there as far as running the ball, engaging the line, he is leading the NRL in try assists, his defence has been rock solid. It doesn’t go unnoticed. It is certainly appreciated by us.”

Shaun Johnson is a stats leader despite being much-maligned.

FIFITA STILL A FORCE

Forgetting the Trbojevic factor, it was a tremendous effort from the Sharks’ pack to get it over Manly’s big boppers.

And playing off the bench on his 31st birthday, none were more impressive than Andrew Fifita.

While he still looks like a moving man mountain, Fifita showed why he can still be a force as he ran for a team-high 150m, with only Addin Fonua-Blake (188m and two tries) making more of any of the forwards.

Fifita said initially his knee was so bad he could have medically retired but he wants to play on. Then over the COVID break he had a calf injury.

But on a wet afternoon in Gosford, the big fella rolled down the field like he was loving his footy again.

“He is our spiritual leader, big Andrew,” Morris added.

“He has been outstanding the last two weeks.

“I felt bringing him back (off the bench) he could really do some damage and he has brought into it. Andrew is team first and it showed tonight.”

Andrew Fifita is playing well despite injury.

TURBO NOT AN EXCUSE

The fact is Tom Trbojevic has either scored or set up 11 of Manly’s 16 tries before this game.

But Hasler wouldn’t have it that it was a psychological reason for the performance his side dished up.

“We are not going to use that as an excuse,” Hasler said.

“There were other areas in our game were we weren’t proficient enough.

“As I said, we scored 24 points. And the players know that.”

And what had Hasler most disappointed was the effort.

Like they say, defence is all about attitude. Not star power.

But it still can’t be disputed their attack just doesn’t resemble what it looks like when Turbo is on the field.

And given he most likely won’t be back before round 13 (Walker could be longer) it is going to be a tough road starting with Newcastle at Brookvale this Sunday.

Originally published as Tommy Talau channels Wests’ best Tommy, Tommy Raudonikis, in stunning performance