Latest news with #BlaizeTalagi
News.com.au
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Blaize Talagi starting to fire ahead of showdown with former side
Blaize Talagi hasn't given his new Penrith teammates any inside information on what to expect from his former side on Sunday afternoon, with the five-eighth hoping to get one over the Eels in a blockbuster battle of the west. Parramatta fans thought Talagi would be their next superstar – especially with whispers Clint Gutherson was on the way out – but they now have to cheer on an Eels side missing their former skipper and one of the hottest young talents in the NRL. Talagi broke their hearts when he told the club he wanted to leave last year, and it only got worse when their noisy neighbours signed him to replace Jarome Luai. He now returns to CommBank Stadium to take on his old club, with Penrith needing a win to get off the foot of the table, with the Eels hoping to heap more pain on the champions. Off-season shoulder surgery slowed down his partnership with Nathan Cleary, with Talagi forced to start the year in reserve grade before he finally earnt a start in round 6. It was a clunky start but the young gun has quickly found his feet, headlined by four try assists against the Cowboys a few weeks ago when he only had eight in 19 games last year. 'He's really starting to grow in belief,' veteran back-rower Scott Sorensen said ahead of his return from suspension. 'Everyone is working hard, and he's right up there in working really hard on his game and understanding our system and his role in defence and attack. 'I think his confidence is starting to build, which is really exciting. 'Being out, you get to have a bit of a bird's-eye view on it. It's awesome to see his game grow, and his voice has grown as well. 'That comes with confidence and working on his combination with Nathan.' Questions were being asked in the early rounds when Talagi wasn't getting picked, while plenty of tough judges were quick to sink the boot in when Penrith were losing with him in the team. But he's starting to look more comfortable every week and hasn't been afraid to over call his famous halves partner if he sees something brewing on the left. 'He hasn't really missed a beat,' Sorensen said. 'He obviously had his shoulder surgery (in the pre-season) and I'm sure that would have played a part in building confidence and getting back into it. 'He just hasn't looked backwards. He's tried to grow and accept that this is his position now. He's been patient. There's a lot of outside noise, but he's believed in what's happening in the four walls here. 'I'm sure he's had conversations with Ivan, and you can see that he's taken his time to grow and learn our system. He's starting to blossom which is nice to see.' Outside back Tom Jenkins played against his former side the Knights last week but said Talagi hadn't even brought up Parramatta ahead of this weekend's grudge match. Jenkins was on the end of a stunning chip kick from Talagi to score against the Cowboys and said the young half's enthusiasm had been crucial for the four-time defending premiers who aren't stressing about being last on the ladder. 'I love playing with Blaize. He always brings the energy and he's one of those X-factor players that we look for,' he said. 'You never know what's going to happen around him, but it's usually pretty good. 'I didn't get to see him in pre-season, but from round 1 to now, it's clear to everyone that he's found his feet and he's developed.'
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Panthers backflip on Blaize Talagi decision after return to Parramatta floated
The Penrith Panthers appear to have changed their plans for Blaize Talagi, after the off-season recruit played centre in NSW Cup last weekend. The Panthers signed Talagi from Parramatta at the end of last season, with a view to him playing five-eighth to replace Jarome Luai. But coach Ivan Cleary caused some shocks in the opening round in Las Vegas when he named Jack Cole at No.6 and left Talagi out of his first-grade team altogether. Talagi played five-eighth in the opening round of the NSW Cup competition, but last weekend he was switched to right centre on game day. The 20-year-old was named at No.6, but it was Trent Toelau who played five-eighth with Talagi out wider. Talagi had a tackle break and line-break assist in the 38-10 victory, but also missed three tackles. The biggest impediment to him playing five-eighth appears to be his defence. Talagi mostly played fullback or wing at the Eels last year, but signed with the Panthers for the chance to partner Nathan Cleary in the halves. But last weekend's switch to centre might suggest his path to first grade lies in the outside backs. Izack Tago is normally the right centre in first-grade, but had a fairly quiet year in 2024 and hasn't set the world on fire to start this season. Cleary could be looking to shake things up after their woeful loss to the Roosters in Round 2, and there are reports winger Casey McLean will make way for Thomas Jenkins for Thursday night's grand final rematch against the Storm. Talagi's switch to the centres comes after leading reporter Michael Chammas suggested the Eels should come knocking about the potential of getting the 20-year-old back. Talagi left the Eels because Dylan Brown was entrenched as the side's No.6, but Brown has now signed a 10-year deal to join Newcastle in 2026. RELATED: Michael Maguire's brutal act towards Reece Walsh that could backfire Broncos urged to use risky tactic in negotiations with Selwyn Cobbo Chammas floated the idea that Parramatta officials should enquire about getting Talagi back if the Panthers are planning to leave him in reserve grade. "If I'm Parramatta, I knock on Penrith's door and I say 'I know you started the year with Blaize in reserve grade, do you have question marks around Blaize in your system (and) is Jack Cole ahead of him?" Chammas said on Triple M radio last week. "And 'is there any appetite to discuss maybe Blaize Talagi coming back to the club?' I would be asking Penrith the question. You may get told to turn around, get stuffed and go back down the freeway but what have you got to lose? Because when he left, the 6 jersey wasn't available. They offered him the fullback jersey and Gutho (Clint Gutherson) was going to be used as as a utility, (but) he wanted to play 6." Cleary previously said he was going to be patient with Cole and afford him time to find his feet. "He's just the sort of kid that needs to play in these types of games to build his confidence and his role in the team," the coach said after the Round 1 win over the Sharks. "It's not easy for him for everyone to keep talking about who he's replacing. It's a little bit like Luke Garner when he first came to our club and replaced 'Kiks' (Viliame Kikau), and also Mitch Kenny when he replaced Api (Koroisau). That took a while because everyone just keeps talking about it."
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nathan Cleary speaks out as new details emerge in divisive Panthers move in Vegas
Nathan Cleary has hinted that star recruit Blaize Talagi faces a tough battle to break into Penrith's starting side, as new details emerge around Panthers coach Ivan Cleary's shock decision to omit him from the Las Vegas season opener. Talagi moved to the four-time defending premiers from Parramatta in the off-season, with many expecting the 19-year-old to come straight into the side as the long-term replacement at No.6 for Jarome Luai, following the five-eighth's switch to the Wests Tigers. But coach Cleary sprang his first major shock of the new season by naming Jack Cole at No.6 for Sunday's (AEDT) Vegas showdown against Cronulla, and Talagi amongst the reserves. The former Eel lit up the NRL in his debut season in 2024 and comes to the defending premiers with plenty of hype. But the 19-year-old did have to undergo shoulder surgery in the off-season, which is likely one of the reasons why the coach has decided not to risk him. However, another issue has emerged around Talagi's shock omission, with veteran league reporter Brent Read suggesting the 19-year-old is still not up to speed with Penrith's structures and style of play. Talagi only featured briefly in the halves for Parramatta last season and was more impressive during his displays on the wing, with his speed and finishing ability rocketing him into stardom. But playing in the halves for the defending premiers is a different kettle of fish and learning the various defensive structures and attacking patterns of this generation's greatest side will surely take time. Speaking on NRL 360 from Las Vegas ahead of Sunday's game, Read suggested that Talagi's omission had more to do with those factors, than concerns around his shoulder. 'I think the issue was that he had a shoulder reconstruction in the off-season so he wasn't with the team all the time on the park," Read said. "But I don't think he is as advanced as maybe they thought he would be in terms of his football knowledge and football nous. 'They are very confident he'll get there eventually but for the time being, the Panthers believe Jack Cole is the right man to play five-eighth alongside Nathan Cleary. Blaize has signed a long-term deal there and he's only 19 so time is on his side.' Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould was among those to question why the Panthers wouldn't start with Talagi at five-eighth from the opening round. "They bought Blaize Talagi for a reason," Gould said earlier this week. "Blaize Talagi has gone to the Panthers to play five-eighth, to play with Nathan Cleary and to replace Jarome Luai... not sure what the Panthers mindset is with that, but I can't see why they wouldn't do that. "I can't see why they can't start Blaize Talagi straight away. I think the sooner they settle on that, the better. He can play other positions, of course, but he has gone there to play five-eighth and I would be surprised if they don't play him five-eighth, from the get-go. But it is still a strong side." RELATED: Kevvie goes public with reveal about Walsh's daughter amid backlash Cameron Smith drops truth about Slater becoming Melb Storm coach Brutal new fallout for Mam as Broncos explain Carrigan 'demotion' The Panthers signed Talagi on a reported three-year, $1.5 million deal and he is expected to be co-captain Cleary's long-time halves partner. But the champion Penrith No.7 was quick to point out that nothing is guaranteed after backing Cole to put up a fight to keep hold of the No.6 jersey after a solid pre-season and impressive performances in the role for Penrith last season. "I think he has, he's proven that through the pre-season, that's why he's starting at six," Cleary said about Cole's prospects. "Obviously Blaize is coming off a shoulder as well. We've still got a little bit of time to go with him, but I think 'Coley' has really impressed. Even in his games last year, I thought they were great experiences for him to build on. It's exciting." with AAP
