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Blaize Talagi caught in brutal backlash as Panthers could be forced to backflip on NRL young gun

Coach Ivan Cleary has a major call to make on the young recruit in 2025.

riley morgan
Sports Reporter
·4-min read

New Penrith signing Blaize Talagi has endured a brutal night at five-eighth for Samoa with doubts raised over his new role at the Panthers in 2025. England were once again way too strong for Samoa having defeated them 34-16 to finish the series with a pair of wins.

While Samoa put up a spirited fight, young superstar Talagi appeared to be out of his depth at five-eighth. Talagi has openly admitted his desire to learn off Jarome Luai during the England Tour having suggested his future in the NRL is in the halves. And with Luai leaving for the Wests Tigers many felt Talagi could slot right in next to Nathan Cleary.

Fabs are questioning where new Penrith signing Blaize Talagi (pictured right) will play next year after a poor game at No.6 for Samoa. (Getty Images)
Fabs are questioning where new Penrith signing Blaize Talagi (pictured right) will play next year after a poor game at No.6 for Samoa. (Getty Images)

Luai would have been mentoring Talagi during the series against England, but fans have questioned whether the 19-year-old is ready to wear the No.6 jersey having struggled in defence against England. One concerning moment was when he missed a front-on tackle with England centre Herbie Farnsworth that led to a try.

Farnsworth cut back on the inside and met Talagi head-on, before brushing him off and running through for a try. Talagi copped plenty of criticism for the missed tackle with suggestions he may be better suited on the wing to replace Sunia Turuva who also joined the Tigers.

Blaize Talagi makes the tackle.
Blaize Talagi (pictured right) struggled in defence against England.

Talagi made 16 tackles, but missed seven in Samoa's defeat. He also made another tough read that led to another Farnsworth try with two errors in the 20 minutes.

While Farnsworth appeared to be unstoppable for England, plenty pointed out Talagi had plenty of learning ahead if he was going to fit into Ivan Cleary's system in the front line and defend in the NRL.

The Panthers have options in the No.6 jersey with Blake Laurie a possibility as well. However, it appears Talagi may have been signed as a long-term solution after Luai's departure. And fans have questioned whether Talagi is ready to play in that role as early as 2025.

Talagi played two games in the halves for Parramatta in 2024, but stood out used as an outside back for Parramatta and was particularly effective on the wing as his blistering speed. Indeed, Talagi's ability to cover either the halves or outside backs leaves him in line to replace Luai or winger Turuva, who is also set to join the Tigers from 2025.

But Talagi says it's the playmaking role at Penrith that he intends to make his own and the youngster is keen to learn as much as possible from Luai during their time in camp together for Samoa. "It (five-eighth) is where I'd like to play, for sure," Talagi revealed. "But I'm happy to play anywhere, to be honest. Whatever happens, I'm happy but I want to just work hard and earn it... Whatever I can learn from him (Luai), I will. He's got that sort of aura about him.

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"He's just a real leader, he leads by his actions, leads by his words. I'm just looking forward to learning off him. When you're a six or five-eighth, you sort of look up to the top people in the game who play that position. Jarome's one of them so whatever I can learn from him, I'm looking forward to."

Talagi is still only 19 years old and would have the opportunity to learn from Cleary if he is to make the full-time transition into the halves at the Panthers. Cleary admitted he has been impressed with Talagi in his debut season for Parramatta, but wasn't ready to speculate who would be playing in the No.6 jersey in 2025.