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I feel sorry for TauTau, the rugby league world is certainly putting the pressure on him with all the recent hype about his potential to be the next superstar and a combination of Folau/Inglis/SBW apparently.
Source: The Daily Telegraph
THIS is the 108kg teenage centre who has drawn comparisons with Sonny Bill Williams and Israel Folau.
Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith has such a high opinion of Tautau Moga that he lobbied the NRL last season to make an exemption and allow the centre to make his debut aged 17.
With a resume including 37 tries in 18 appearances in the Roosters' SG Ball and Toyota Cup teams last year, it's easy to see why.
But under the NRL rule introduced at the end of 2008, players must be aged 18 or over to play first grade.
After celebrating his 18th birthday in December with a two-year contract extension, the wait to see Moga is expected to end come round one against South Sydney.
Standing 1.93m, the similarities between the softly spoken Mormon from Queensland and Folau - both on and off the field - are impossible to miss.
While Roosters recruitment guru Peter O'Sullivan was at pains to hose down comparisons, Penrith's 2003 grand final hero Scott Sattler said Moga may be better than Folau.
"I saw Tautau play in the Australian Schoolboys carnival in 2010 and I immediately thought it was Sonny Bill reincarnated," Sattler said.
"He was like a man amongst boys. The people I've spoken to reckon he's going to be better than Israel Folau.
"No disrespect to Israel Folau, but he was never noted as a really hard-nosed aggressor.
"Tautau's got the footwork and the speed of Israel and the raw aggression of Sonny Bill.
Play Kennards Hire NRL Tipping 2012
"I understand people are going to be worried about putting too much pressure on him, but when you're as good as this bloke, people are going to talk. I've also heard he's a well-balanced, level-headed, quality human off the field, which will make it easier for him."
When Smith took the Roosters on one of those maximum torture commando camps at Holsworthy Army Barracks before Christmas, Moga was one of the standout performers.
Born and raised in the Ipswich region, Moga has pledged his allegiance to Queensland despite being signed to the Roosters Academy when he was 14.
"I think everybody's going to know his name by the end of the season," Smith said.
"We would have played him in first grade last year if he'd had his 18th birthday, but unfortunately the NRL changed the rule on us."
The Roosters centre, who grew up following the Broncos, told The Sunday Telegraph he had studied footage of Folau playing in the centres before the Queensland and Australian Test star defected to the AFL.
"I'm just hoping to play some first grade this season," Moga said.
"The age limit stopped me last year, but hopefully I'm ready now.
"I did study Israel Folau, but then he left the league so I stopped."
Source: The Daily Telegraph
THIS is the 108kg teenage centre who has drawn comparisons with Sonny Bill Williams and Israel Folau.
Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith has such a high opinion of Tautau Moga that he lobbied the NRL last season to make an exemption and allow the centre to make his debut aged 17.
With a resume including 37 tries in 18 appearances in the Roosters' SG Ball and Toyota Cup teams last year, it's easy to see why.
But under the NRL rule introduced at the end of 2008, players must be aged 18 or over to play first grade.
After celebrating his 18th birthday in December with a two-year contract extension, the wait to see Moga is expected to end come round one against South Sydney.
Standing 1.93m, the similarities between the softly spoken Mormon from Queensland and Folau - both on and off the field - are impossible to miss.
While Roosters recruitment guru Peter O'Sullivan was at pains to hose down comparisons, Penrith's 2003 grand final hero Scott Sattler said Moga may be better than Folau.
"I saw Tautau play in the Australian Schoolboys carnival in 2010 and I immediately thought it was Sonny Bill reincarnated," Sattler said.
"He was like a man amongst boys. The people I've spoken to reckon he's going to be better than Israel Folau.
"No disrespect to Israel Folau, but he was never noted as a really hard-nosed aggressor.
"Tautau's got the footwork and the speed of Israel and the raw aggression of Sonny Bill.
Play Kennards Hire NRL Tipping 2012
"I understand people are going to be worried about putting too much pressure on him, but when you're as good as this bloke, people are going to talk. I've also heard he's a well-balanced, level-headed, quality human off the field, which will make it easier for him."
When Smith took the Roosters on one of those maximum torture commando camps at Holsworthy Army Barracks before Christmas, Moga was one of the standout performers.
Born and raised in the Ipswich region, Moga has pledged his allegiance to Queensland despite being signed to the Roosters Academy when he was 14.
"I think everybody's going to know his name by the end of the season," Smith said.
"We would have played him in first grade last year if he'd had his 18th birthday, but unfortunately the NRL changed the rule on us."
The Roosters centre, who grew up following the Broncos, told The Sunday Telegraph he had studied footage of Folau playing in the centres before the Queensland and Australian Test star defected to the AFL.
"I'm just hoping to play some first grade this season," Moga said.
"The age limit stopped me last year, but hopefully I'm ready now.
"I did study Israel Folau, but then he left the league so I stopped."
John u doing some research I see lol
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