Jorge Taufua

[Ryan]

In my opinion, Jorge has all the ability in the world, to be one of the best wingers in the game. There is a reason he was selected for City / Country in 13/14, and a reason he represented Tonga from 2013-2015.

I know it was a nothing 9's competition, but there is a definitive pattern emerging here. A complete and utter lack of intensity, passion & up tempo football.

Dropped balls, slow play the balls (and I mean extremely slow), flailing arms in defense, poor positional play. These have been facets of his games for 5 years.

Is he a walk up start to play on our wing? Honestly, at this point, I give Tom Wright a start. I'd say put Taufua in the forwards, but his lateral defense is just horrible. His play the balls are too slow. He makes Brenton Lawrence look like Usain Bolt.

What do we do with him, guys? Woodsie suggested Parker should get a go. At this stage, I'd tend to agree with that assessment.

 

[HappilyManly]

Jorge is Trex - no sense of urgency, wastes his God given talents.

Maybe putting him in the forwards will be the best move.

To this day, Jorge has yet to chase a player he had just fallen off. He lets others shoulder the burden of defense

Also, the amount of times that he over ran Matai, stopping Skivi's ability to offoad is another weakness of his positional play.

And let's not forget his inability to defuse a bomb 😕

Plenty of the new buys will be on his heels for his spot in FG

 

[Midnight Rambler]

He's just not agile, or dynamic in his movement. Lack of passion or intensity???? How do you average 150 mtrs per game missing these vital elements? Jorge has a mortgage on that wing position, he's the best winger we have.

 

[Loobs]

He's off contract after this isn't he? If so...

 

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

Plenty of the new buys will be on his heels for his spot in FG

This. He will get first shot, but it is his to lose. He looks fit and healthy and from all reports the troubled shoulder is good as new. Hopefully in the 13 a side game he really shows what we know he can do, but unless a few areas improve, I fear he'll cop the wolfman treatment with others coming through. At the moment, his size, and attack are keeping him in starting role. As suggested by many, I think forwards will be his future, but at the moment there are more in front of him for that role.

 

[1969]

Maybe we should get that African flyer from the workers, he goes alright, but doubt whether he's up to first grade yet.

 

[MANLY4LIFE]

Hands ! You need good hands in this game especially in his position !!! he just doesn't have that and never will ! We've put up with it a little too long now .....

 

[Shoe1]

Hands ! You need good hands in this game especially in his position !!! he just doesn't have that and never will ! We've put up with it a little too long now .....

He has great hands when the pass is difficult, scored plenty from low passes, half volleys etc.

He has terrible hands when there is no pressure, and poor ball security.

 

[Ryan]

He's just not agile, or dynamic in his movement. Lack of passion or intensity???? How do you average 150 mtrs per game missing these vital elements? Jorge has a mortgage on that wing position, he's the best winger we have.

Because while he has his flaws, he is also very good in other areas. This isn't just a bag thread.

X He's an amazing finisher
X His carries from dummy half and from kick returns are fantastic
X His chemistry with Matai was great
X His occasional good reads in defense means when he hits, boy, he hits

BUT, just like Manu Vatuvei, he's prone to the clunker (quite often, too unfortunately). And like Tony Williams, he approaches everything far too slowly.

That one play the ball, when he does those amazing kick returns, is so important. He flicks his legs around, gets an ultra fast play-the-ball, we are facing a retiring defensive line, and our overall metres are greater through the whole set.

Get his customary slow play the ball, we are charging a set defense, meaning our metres are limited, gifting the opposition territorial dominance.

 

[Mal Cochrane]

with the amount of hitups and metres Jorge chews, the lost ball in a tackle is a rare thing for him. Yes, i agree about his hands defusing kicks. Penrith scored other tries from our mistakes, but because he was the last person to make a mistake that led to a try..it looks like Jorge is the Auckland 9's scapegoat.

probably wouldn't have made the semi if you replace him with another first grade back or a young buck from the 20's

 

[globaleagle]

I see what y'all sayin' (ew) but I like Jorge.

I don't think there's another winger that gets to the line so consistently when he gets the ball 10 mtrs out.

Takes good pressure off the forwards with his hitups (maybe he's slow to get up to give the forwards time to get back onside?)

I remember when we all bagged him about not jumping...then found out he'd been playing with some injury or a brace stopping his arms to go above his head.

One try (today?) he got bagged for not chasing...the one where whomever it was ran around Taupau...but he dived and nearly clipped the guy into touch. It's the nines....when you're flat on your gut and a speedster is on his way...probably many others wouldn't give chase. Remember it was stinking hot there and you can't empty the tank too quickly (I dunno)

Ok, he has some issues...but I don't think they are all that bad in the 13 a side state of things. I think he's raring to go this year so ask me around October sometime.

But, I'm more than happy with him there. Always happy if the wing spot is being highly contested as well.

Go the Jorge!

 

[Ryan]

with the amount of hitups and metres Jorge chews, the lost ball in a tackle is a rare thing for him. Yes, i agree about his hands defusing kicks. Penrith scored other tries from our mistakes, but because he was the last person to make a mistake that led to a try..it looks like Jorge is the Auckland 9's scapegoat.

probably wouldn't have made the semi if you replace him with another first grade back or a young buck from the 20's

His arm grab also cost us the 1st try against. Look at his reaction when he missed it.

 

[Danly Manly]

Overall he was one of our best over the last two days. I am sure he will hold a spot in the team for the entire year if he remains uninjured.

 

[mutley]

We should do what the club has been trying to do for 6 months offload him, we didnt sign centre/wingers to play jorge in first grade

 

[PONTIAN SEA EAGLE]

All stations to blacktown.

 

[The '47ers]

Jorge is Trex - no sense of urgency, wastes his God given talents.

Maybe putting him in the forwards will be the best move.

To this day, Jorge has yet to chase a player he had just fallen off. He lets others shoulder the burden of defense

Also, the amount of times that he over ran Matai, stopping Skivi's ability to offoad is another weakness of his positional play.

And let's not forget his inability to defuse a bomb 😕

Plenty of the new buys will be on his heels for his spot in FG

Agree 100% with this
Taufua =

 

[Mal Cochrane]

His arm grab also cost us the 1st try against. Look at his reaction when he missed it.

I am not sure i will see it again, but was it the same reaction as when he scores a try?

 

[winnyason]

He not the player he once was. I have concerns with him and uate on flanks. That said notice Martin tapau running across field again.
Positive Brian Kelly his reach is Inglis like close to line, young siro aggressive with ball in hand

 

[Snake]

Personally I think Jorge is second to Mansour as the best yardage winger in the comp...

Both are ordinary under the high ball and both have the occasional howler in their game but Jorge is a beast and works incredibly hard to help the side out...he also played through injury to put the team first. He is also a scary bugger with corn rows and now that Matai is gone, we need a hitman out wide. Jorge is a Manly boy through and through!

 

[robbiea]

There is no one better at taking on opposition one on one at the try line,He always gets over.Unfortunately for him there is many more tangibles to the wing position that he is lacking.
I still keep him there every day over Parker and 3xWrights.
Remember one wrong doesnt make three Wrights.