Parramatta coach Brad Arthur likes his players tough, so it’s little wonder he has taken a shine to Eels rookie Blaize Talagi.
The 19-year-old Talagi enjoyed a try-scoring NRL debut for the Eels at centre in Sunday’s 28-24 home win over Manly - where he was watched by a bus-load of family and friends.
His breakthrough at senior level has come 10 months after he suffered a collapsed lung while playing in an under-18s City-Country Origin match.
“I played 15 minutes with it being collapsed," Talagi said, perhaps highlighting why Arthur is such a fan.
“It felt like getting stabbed in the heart every time I ran (but) the doctor reckoned I had a stitch.
“I was in hospital for a week - that was a tough time.
“I didn’t think it was that bad... But they said that was my season.
“It wasn’t from a tackle - they reckon there was something on my lung that burst.
“They reckon I was born with it. At first, I just thought I would take it easy.”
The youngster has been widely tipped as an NRL star in waiting and has shown during his junior career he is comfortable playing across the halves and backline.
It's doubtful he will keep his starting role for the Eels’ Easter Monday clash with Wests Tigers, with Maika Sivo and Bailey Simonsson both at Arthur’s disposal.
But there’s every chance the teenager will follow the path laid by fellow local junior Will Penisini and become a mainstay of this Parramatta side over the next couple of seasons.
“Brad is real good, he is sort of a father figure to all us boys,” Talagi said of coach Arthur.
“He has been watching me through my career.
“The dream would be to play consistent first-grade footy. Whatever the team needs, I will slot in.”
