By Jonathan B Geddes

WHEN backrower TJ Talaileva returned to Newcastle after three years at the strong rugby nursery Barker College on Sydney’s north shore, the Hunter Wildfires originally planned to blood him this season in the Colts.

But the impressive young forward, who is in the Waratahs Academy, took that decision out of the coaches’ hands.

“Initially, we said ‘let’s let him do the pre-season with grade for his own development and give him a taste for it’,” Wildfires coach Scott Coleman told Rugby News. “Then go back to play Colts and look at next year.

“But he just excelled, and we didn’t even know he was a Colt halfway through the pre-season – he mixed it with men and got stuck right into it.”

Not only has Talaileva played the full 80 minutes in the Wildfires’ opening three Shute Shield games, he has also been named players’ player in two of them.

Coleman believes it is just a matter of time before he gets called up to the next level. He said the Waratahs need to lock him up – or someone else will very soon.

“He’s only just turned 18, but he’s a competitor and trains like a pro,” Coleman said. “He’s physical but also smart and tactical.
“He’s a great human being off the field, but once he gets on the field, he definitely goes into that competitive mode.”  

Talaileva will back up for his fourth straight Shute Shield appearance in Hunter’s crucial clash with Gordon at Chatswood Oval on Saturday. Watch the Wildfires in action, and good luck picking the kid fresh out of school.

YOU CAN’T BEAT A GOOD EDUCATION   

TALAILEVA was born and raised in Newcastle, and after doing his HSC at Barker, is back home to attend university.

He linked up with the Wildfires, where he has a family connection. Older brother Phil is the Wildfires’ big No. 8, who is currently sidelined after surgery for a syndesmosis.

Besides starting his uni studies, Talaileva has also embarked on the best possible rugby education – honing his skills in the school hard knocks that is the Shute Shield under expert tutors Coleman, his brother Darren and assistant coach Scott Fardy, the ex-Wallaby forward.

Throughout his coaching career, Darren, the Wildfires’ director of rugby, has successfully nurtured and developed young talent.

HOME SWEET HOME

TJ’s homecoming is a great example of what the Wildfires want to do – get locals back to the club when they have completed school in Sydney. As his career really kicks on, he can be the template for other players to follow.  

“We are putting a lot of effort into our Colts and our junior pathways, really getting the connection with all our Newcastle kids who are away at GPS schools,” Coleman said.

UPS AND DOWNS

THERE is plenty on the line for both clubs at Chatswood on Saturday, with the Wildfires in third spot on 12 points and Gordon sitting sixth with 10 points in a congested ladder.

Depending on other results, a loss could theoretically see Hunter drop to eighth and plunge Gordon to near the bottom of the table.

“There are never any easy games in the competition, but the more you win those games against the top teams, the better chance you’ve got of making the semis, that’s for sure,” Coleman said.

“We’ve been cruelled through injuries and are just working our way through that.”

Coleman said there was one key area where the Wildfires have to improve on Saturday after getting out of jail last weekend against Souths, securing a 31-28 victory with a penalty goal right on fulltime.

“Consistency right across the park in our defence and our attack,” he said. “We’ve got to play for 80 minutes – against Souths and Eastwood we’ve been going in and out of games.”