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Moga has 'kicked the door in', says Smith
SYDNEY Roosters coach Brian Smith says 18-year-old centre Tautau Moga has “kicked the door off the hinges” in staking his claims for a starting spot in Round 1.
With South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Monday March 5 the goal, Smith revealed the teen has earned his chance on his own merits, and not as replacement for Shaun Kenny-Dowall and his kidney injury.
“It doesn’t open the door for him, mate he’s kicked the door off the hinges and it has nothing to do with Shaun,” Smith declared at the launch of the Foundation Cup trial against the Wests Tigers.
“I have no shadow of a doubt that Tautau has got that (talent), it’s not talent that’s up for debate - blind Freddy can see how talented he is.
"It’s the opportunity to see him make those repeat efforts and see how he goes when the 80 minutes is thrown up.
“Particularly backing up from one day to another through pre-season and then one week to another in first grade, the competition has little to do with talent and a lot to do with the other stuff it takes to be a first grader and he’s ticked all the boxes so far."
The Queensland product, signed until the end of 2014, was a solid performer in the Belmore trial against Canterbury-Bankstown last weekend and will be given another opportunity to shine when the tricolours face the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown on Saturday.
Despite playing a safe game, Smith said he is being cautious, not to over-expose him to the rigours of first grade too early in his career.
“He’s been outstanding but there’s only one place you can tick those boxes and we’re about to find out whether he can or whether he needs to take a bit of time,” he said.
“Everybody loves the fairytale story of a young kid making first grade straight off and doing everything right but the reality is sometimes it’s a bit different to that.
"It won’t disappoint me because it will make him like 99 percent of other footballers who need to go back and start again and re-build their game in some areas and just take the time that it takes to develop the tenacity and toughness to play first grade.”
Kenny-Dowall will miss this weekend’s trial after lacerating his kidney at training resulting in two nights in hospital.
“A lacerated kidney is not the sort of thing you mess about with,” Smith said.
“He’s out of hospital but he’s resting for a week and doctors will re-assess him but he would be unlikely I would think to start the season.”
Origin prospect Martin Kennedy is also unavailable through injury, battling an adductor strain while BJ Leilua and Tom Symonds were missing from last week’s trial and considered no certainties for Saturday’s match.
Moga has 'kicked the door in', says Smith
SYDNEY Roosters coach Brian Smith says 18-year-old centre Tautau Moga has “kicked the door off the hinges” in staking his claims for a starting spot in Round 1.
With South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Monday March 5 the goal, Smith revealed the teen has earned his chance on his own merits, and not as replacement for Shaun Kenny-Dowall and his kidney injury.
“It doesn’t open the door for him, mate he’s kicked the door off the hinges and it has nothing to do with Shaun,” Smith declared at the launch of the Foundation Cup trial against the Wests Tigers.
“I have no shadow of a doubt that Tautau has got that (talent), it’s not talent that’s up for debate - blind Freddy can see how talented he is.
"It’s the opportunity to see him make those repeat efforts and see how he goes when the 80 minutes is thrown up.
“Particularly backing up from one day to another through pre-season and then one week to another in first grade, the competition has little to do with talent and a lot to do with the other stuff it takes to be a first grader and he’s ticked all the boxes so far."
The Queensland product, signed until the end of 2014, was a solid performer in the Belmore trial against Canterbury-Bankstown last weekend and will be given another opportunity to shine when the tricolours face the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown on Saturday.
Despite playing a safe game, Smith said he is being cautious, not to over-expose him to the rigours of first grade too early in his career.
“He’s been outstanding but there’s only one place you can tick those boxes and we’re about to find out whether he can or whether he needs to take a bit of time,” he said.
“Everybody loves the fairytale story of a young kid making first grade straight off and doing everything right but the reality is sometimes it’s a bit different to that.
"It won’t disappoint me because it will make him like 99 percent of other footballers who need to go back and start again and re-build their game in some areas and just take the time that it takes to develop the tenacity and toughness to play first grade.”
Kenny-Dowall will miss this weekend’s trial after lacerating his kidney at training resulting in two nights in hospital.
“A lacerated kidney is not the sort of thing you mess about with,” Smith said.
“He’s out of hospital but he’s resting for a week and doctors will re-assess him but he would be unlikely I would think to start the season.”
Origin prospect Martin Kennedy is also unavailable through injury, battling an adductor strain while BJ Leilua and Tom Symonds were missing from last week’s trial and considered no certainties for Saturday’s match.
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