Tommy Talau Explained

Tommy Talau
Birth Date:30 April 2000
Birth Place:Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height:189cm (74inches)
Weight:92kg (203lb)
Year1start:2019
Year1end:23
Appearances1:47
Tries1:20
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:80
Club2:Manly Sea Eagles
Year2start:2024
Year2end:present
Appearances2:19
Tries2:15
Goals2:0
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:60
Teama:Samoa
Yearastart:2023
Appearancesa:1
Triesa:0
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:0
New:yes
Source:[1]
Updated:16 August 2024

Tommy Talau (born 30 April 2000) is a Samoan international rugby league footballer who plays as a and er for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Background

Talau was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He is the son of former New Zealand and Samoan international, Willie Talau.

Talau played his junior rugby league for the Moorebank Rams. He attended Westfields Sports High School and joined the junior ranks of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. In 2018 he captained the Bulldogs' Under-18 team in the grand final of the S. G. Ball Cup. In the same year he was selected in the Australian Schoolboys rugby league team.[2] At the end of the 2018 season he moved from the Bulldogs to the Wests Tigers, signing a development contract.[3]

Career

2019

Talau made his first-grade debut starting at in round 22 of the 2019 NRL season for the Wests Tigers in their 32-12 loss against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval.[4] He became the first player born in the 2000s to play for the Tigers.[5] [6]

2020

In round 7 of the 2020 NRL season, Talau scored two tries as the Wests Tigers defeated Canterbury-Bankstown 34-6 at Bankwest Stadium.[7]

Talau played 12 games and scored eight tries for Wests Tigers in the 2020 NRL season as the club missed out on the finals by finishing 11th.[8]

2021

Talau played a total of 22 games for the Wests Tigers and scored 11 tries in the 2021 NRL season as the club finished 13th and missed the finals.[9]

2022

On 25 October, Talau signed a one-year deal to remain at the club until the end of 2023. Talau missed the entire 2022 season with a ruptured ACL injury.[10]

2023

On 26 June, it was announced that Talau had signed a two-year deal to join Manly starting in 2024.[11] Talau played a total of twelve games for the Wests Tigers in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished with the Wooden Spoon for a second straight year.[12]

2024

In round 12 of the 2024 NRL season, Talau scored two tries for Manly in their 26-20 upset victory over Melbourne.[13] In round 14, Talau scored four tries for Manly in their 32-22 loss against Penrith.[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/tommy-talau/summary.html Rugby League Project
  2. News: Encarnacion . Matt . Tommy Talau son of former Bulldog Willie to debut for Wests Tigers . 17 August 2019 . Wide World of Sports (Nine) . 15 August 2019.
  3. News: Jackson . Andrew . Talau poised to follow in famous father's footsteps . 17 August 2019 . New South Wales Rugby League . 30 July 2019.
  4. Web site: Round 22 NRL team lists. NRL.com. 15 August 2019.
  5. Web site: Tommy Talau son of former Bulldog Willie to debut for Wests Tigers. WWOS.
  6. Web site: Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire refuses to give up on one last hurrah for Robbie Farah . Sydney Morning Herald . 14 August 2019.
  7. Web site: Talau brings wow factor. www.nrl.com.
  8. Web site: Wests Tigers doomed to another finals miss in 2021, Peter Sterling predicts. wwos.nine.com.au.
  9. News: Wests Tigers fans savage the club's new-look logo. News.com.au. 6 October 2021. Conrad. Alex.
  10. Web site: New deal for Tommy Talau. www.weststigers.com.au.
  11. Web site: Sea Eagles secure Brooks on mega deal as club announces FOUR signings: Transfer Centre. www.foxsports.com.au.
  12. Web site: ‘Circus act’ that summed up year from hell... and big call left for Benji: Wests Tigers Brutal Review. www.foxsports.com.au.
  13. Web site: Manly teen’s dazzling debut; shades of past bad blood after scuffle ensues - What we learned. www.foxsports.com.au.
  14. Web site: 'Day of hat-tricks': Brian To'o and Tommy Talau achieve rare feat in chaotic Manly-Penrith clash. www.nine.com.au.