Player Misi Taulapapa

[MiXmasterreece_old]

Misi Taulapapa

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https://xtramsn.co.nz/sport/0,,12050-5666056,00.html

8/04/2006
XtraMSN
Winger Misi Taulapapa will become the Warriors' second first-grade debutant in three games when he lines up against South Sydney in Saturday night's NRL encounter at Ericsson Stadium.

The 24-year-old will be the third player used on the left wing this month with Kiwi international Manu Vatuvei and Patrick Ah Van both sidelined with injury.

Vatuvei (20) is still recovering from the hamstring injury that forced him out of the April 9 clash against Manly.

That allowed Ah Van (18) to make his debut against the Sea Eagles but he was forced off the field with a shoulder injury only 14 minutes into Saturday night's loss to the Canberra Raiders. Damage to the AC joint in his left shoulder is expected to keep him out of action for four weeks.

"It's unfortunate for Patrick because he handled himself well in his start at this level," said Warriors coach Ivan Cleary.

"Misi has an opportunity now on the strength of his form in the Bartercard Cup.

"He had a slow start to the year after being troubled by a stress fracture in his foot but he's been going well for the Auckland Lions lately."

Like Ah Van, Taulapapa is a product of the Warriors' Allied Work Force elite development programme. He travelled to Perth as 18th man for the Warriors' match against the Cronulla Sharks last May.

Taulapapa switched to rugby league from rugby union in 2004, turning out for Marist Richmond Brothers in the Bartercard Cup and making the New Zealand A side that year.

He'll become the 130th first grader in the Warriors' 12-year history on Saturday night and there's a possibility that number will grow to 131 with Sam Rapira, another graduate of the Allied Work Force elite development programme, named on a six-man bench for the South Sydney match.

Apart from Taulapapa replacing Ah Van, Cleary named the same starting line-up used against Canberra with Grant Rovelli at standoff and Sione Faumuina due to come off the bench. It had been hoped 2005 Kiwi Jerome Ropati would be able to return from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the last two games against Manly and Canberra.

Cleary doesn't see anything easy about the clash against the Rabbitohs, the only side yet to win a match in the 2006 competition after losing 18-26 to the Bulldogs on Monday.

"I thought they went really well against the Dogs and they'll be desperate against us," said Cleary.

Meanwhile, two other promising players will be back in first-grade contention for the Warriors shortly.

Simon Mannering, the club's 2005 rookie of the year, scored two tries for the Wellington Orcas in their Bartercard Cup win over Harbour League on Sunday.

It was Mannering's first game of the year after an extended lay-off with a stress fracture in his leg. And 18-year-old back rower Sonny Fai is closer to a playing return after shoulder surgery in the off-season.

 

[L N_old]

vuna and taulapapa are both deserved of a start

i was surprised ah van got the start ahead of vuna intially with ah van only playing njc, nz16s and batercard and not even making the jks yet. i thought vuna would of been next in line??

im not a vuna advocate but then i wasnt a ah van one as well but with the kids common sense start and doing the basics well ah van has got promise

hope taulapapa and vuna get to show theres as well

 

[Skinny_Ravs82]

Tis nice to have another young one out there! Hope all you peeps are happy about that! Hehe. ANd yah for me seeing Ravs now getting a second start!! Whoopy!!

 

[Wiki_old]

Interesting. I thought Vuna would be ahead.

Regardless, our rookies are getting a run and we should be happy.

 

[Paul Holmes_old]

i was at the bulls game against the tamaki leopards and cooper vuna looked dangerous every time he had the ball and really evasive with plenty of speed! against a shit team he would have carved up but he was playing against the mighty bulls so it wasnt his fault! misi i think has a bit more pace from what i remember from last year but maybe cooper is a bit more creative? and he was playing fullback sunday too.

p.s. cant wait for big george tuakura to get a run! he looked awesome on sunday just a big big man with great a offload

 

[KeepingTheFaith_old]

I wanted Taulapapa in the team last year so I'm very excited to see how he goes against the Rabbits. Vatuvei, Vuna, Ah Van, Taulapapa. We've got some potential there that's for sure. Further reasons why Byrne and Martin probably won't be around next year.

 

[edguy_old]

rookie wingers great......whats byrne still doing out there god damnit???????????

now bring in the rookie forwards as well ...to give the forward pack a kick up the backside !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

not like last year ...when we had the same freakin pack week in week out ....more young guns please ivan ........

 

[sebastian_old]

I wanted Taulapapa in the team last year so I'm very excited to see how he goes against the Rabbits. Vatuvei, Vuna, Ah Van, Taulapapa. We've got some potential there that's for sure. Further reasons why Byrne and Martin probably won't be around next year.

Hell yeah, bimbo byrne couldn't even work out if he ran to the corner he would've scored & won us the game, WHAT A BIMBO. I couldn't work out why the roosters dropped him now i know. I don't mind martin to be honest he is getting better every game but we would save money by letting him go & lord knows we need a new 7 & with brett firman & matt head on the market, we need to get one of them.
Is misi as faster or stronger than vuna?? Also a lad mentioned vuna was in bad form can any of you guys confirm that, just trying to work out why he didn't get picked, thanks...

 

[KeepingTheFaith_old]

Hard to say Sebastian. I've got a feeling that Misi is a little bit faster, but seeing as he's just worked his way back from foot stress fractures it may take him a week or two to work up the confidence to really put the foot down.

Last year I would have said Misi was stronger, but after seeing some footage of Vuna during the pre season I couldn't believe how much that boy has bulked up, and he still has the speed he used to have aswell.

So what happens if we end up loosing Toopi, Webb, Byrne and Martin because of the salary cap?

1. Vuna
2. Taulapapa
3. Ah Van
4. Mannering
5. Vatuvei

I know we'll probably bring in a couple of aussie journeymen if we loose all 4 of them, but I wouldn't mind seeing all those guys given time to develop as a unit.

 

[Skinner_old]

i was at the bulls game against the tamaki leopards and cooper vuna looked dangerous every time he had the ball and really evasive with plenty of speed! against a slop team he would have carved up but he was playing against the mighty bulls so it wasnt his fault! misi i think has a bit more pace from what i remember from last year but maybe cooper is a bit more creative? and he was playing fullback sunday too.

Interesting Mr Holmes - his team mates are saying he is playing
like crap. There may be a little issue with the Cooper attitude which
raises it head from time to time.

I did think he had it under control though.

Cheers

 

[Fobin_Hood_old]

Taulapapa's been in devastating form for the Auckland Lions in the 4 games theyve had so far. He deserves the call and in my opinion shouldve been picked ahead of Ah Van initially. Taulapapa plays bigger than his 78kg frame. Probably one of the toughest players pound for pound ive ever seen. Prime eaxmple round 2 against the Tamaki Leopards, Taulapapa bumped off Nikorn Thammavongsa (former warriors development player) and hes a prop that represented NZ throughout the age groups. Vuna's been in average to below average form. Last good game i saw him play was the junior kiwi's 1st game of their 2005 tour against the roosters development, and that was a long time ago. He also played good in the pre season against the Raiders. Overrated to say the least.

 

[Fobin_Hood_old]

i was at the bulls game against the tamaki leopards and cooper vuna looked dangerous every time he had the ball and really evasive with plenty of speed! against a slop team he would have carved up but he was playing against the mighty bulls so it wasnt his fault! misi i think has a bit more pace from what i remember from last year but maybe cooper is a bit more creative? and he was playing fullback sunday too.

Interesting Mr Holmes - his team mates are saying he is playing
like crap. There may be a little issue with the Cooper attitude which
raises it head from time to time.

I did think he had it under control though.

Cheers

Haha yeah Cooper hasnt been that hot so far in the competition, but yeah he did "OKAY" against the Bulls but didnt do the damage that miguel start did in the Lions opening game. Vuna's a confidence player that performs when his teams performing. I remember when Vuna played for the Auckland Crowns (round 1) last year in the NJC 18's comp, Crowns played Wellington at Cornwall Park and Vuna was "OUTCLASSED" by opposing centre Josh Davis (now playing flegg with the Eels) Vuna had to get subbed off early in the second half couldnt handle the heat.

 

[L N_old]

josh nearly swayed that game for them he basically carried that weli side that day

especially with the exodus of players that had just left that very strong weli side from the previous year and many of them are playing in oz now

luke and karawana...playing flegg for bulldogs

manu at storms feeder club

te-reo at broncos feeder club

laban playing flegg for knights.....which knights are co leaders of the flegg and of that NJC weli game in 05 joshie was denied his hat trick...that day in the corner right in front of me that could of got weli 18s home he terrorised not only vuna but the whole crowns back line

hes settling in well over parra after the initial shock he cause by locals thinking he snubbed them cause there was talk of him wanting a better sign on fee which was hear say cause he was due to go straight over and play matthews under a parra scholarship but he stayed for family reasons and to complete his successful NZIS studies

he has always talked it up......and did a tongue n cheek interview before going over to oz as well he was talking about dominating there age groups and walking straight into premier grade that riled alot of the parra fans up but it was him just being him self....tongue n cheek

he is finding his feet over there now and is in the right place to bide his time and develop more through parras competitive grades and learn from the impressive systems that parra have in abunance over there through out all there programs matthews, sg, flegg, and premier at such a young age he has shown his great promise right from when he made weli 16 through to the successful NZ 16s then on to the weli 18s that dominated the NJC that year and went through undefeated winning the NJC and also many of the Weli boys making the JKs that year and he even played himsellf into great form in that JKs side against the combined poms side for his rookie JK year he out played not only his opposites but was a dominant figure in that JK side which incidently...had two players that are currently playing NRL 1st grade now soliola andvatuvei.......who had made his NRL debut that year but josh was the main instigator in the JKs winning the final test at Harbour stadium setting up soliola for a try but also in turn scoring a hat trick for himself not only did he out play his opposites but also out shined his more senior team mates all in his rookie JK year......

im not a vuna fan but hope he can develop into what others say he has....potential?

basically alot of the juniors that are in the warriors development shouldn't be there....but are there!!

never the less hopefully they can come through and show promise like......ah van has done you cant blame the players that have moved on due to frustration from lack of influential development nor the youngsters who are trying to make a fist of it now in the warriors development side

but its a major development issue that needs to be address A.S.A.P. from current management because we all know what pass management had done to our club and sadly we are still feeling the after effect of that fiasco but it needs to be addressd or else season 04....or 06?? could very well possibly become a normality.........

 

[Skinner_old]

Davis carved that day at Cornwall and I'll swear blind he wasn't even fit at the time. He is a lazy player though - watch him, if he can get there walking, then he will, rather than run.

Yep, Coops developed the old limp in that game and got hooked...LOL

He's alright, just needs a good kick every so often.

Cheers

 

[ozbash_old]

do you think those good players get bored playing B/Cup ?

 

[Skinner_old]

do you think those good players get bored playing B/Cup ?

I think it depends on how ambitious they are and what type of individual they are.

If they haven't been back a grade for a while, they seem to love being back playing with their old mates again. I think you have to remember that when they go to BC they are playing with guys they have likely played with, and against, since mini and mod days and they feel pretty comfortable.

The truly ambititious ones hate it and can't wait to get out.

Henz was the one - he always looked really happy when he turned out for Manurewa.

Cheers

 

[ozbash_old]

""Henz was the one - he always looked really happy when he turned out for Manurewa. ""

you can see where hes comin from tho aye, henry is a showman and b/c was the ideal place to practise his routines

no, i often wondered if the really good players,, vuna,, ah van,, manu etc felt smothered by b/c. bit like a genius being in a class full of idjits..

 

[Warrior_Hot_Stepper_old]

Winger Misi Taulapapa will become the Vodafone Warriors’ second first-grade debutant in three games when he lines up against South Sydney in Saturday night’s NRL encounter at Ericsson Stadium.
The 24-year-old will be the third player used on the left wing this month with Kiwi international Manu Vatuvei and Patrick both sidelined with injury.
Vatuvei (20) is still recovering from the hamstring injury that forced him out of the April 9 clash against Manly.
That allowed Ah Van (18) to make his debut against the Sea Eagles but he was forced off the field with a shoulder injury only 14 minutes into Saturday night’s loss to the Canberra Raiders. Damage to the AC joint in his left shoulder is expected to keep him out of action for four weeks.
“It’s unfortunate for Patrick because he handled himself well in his start at this level,†said Vodafone Warriors coach Ivan Cleary.
“Misi has an opportunity now on the strength of his form in the Bartercard Cup.
“He had a slow start to the year after being troubled by a stress fracture in is foot but he’s been going for the Auckland Lions lately.â€Â
Like Ah Van, Taulapapa is a product of the Vodafone Warriors’ Allied Work Force elite development programme. He travelled to Perth as 18th man for the Vodafone Warriors’ match against the Cronulla Sharks last May.
Taulapapa switched to rugby league from rugby union in 2004, turning out for Marist Richmond Brothers in the Bartercard Cup and making the New Zealand A side that year.
He’ll become the 130th first grader in the Vodafone Warriors’ 12-year history on Saturday night and there’s a possibility that number will grow to 131 with Sam Rapira, another graduate of the Allied Work Force elite development programme, named on a six-man bench for the South Sydney match.
Apart from Taulapapa replacing Ah Van, Cleary today named the same starting line-up used against Canberra with Grant Rovelli at standoff and Sione Faumuina due to come off the bench. It had been hoped 2005 Kiwi Jerome Ropati would be able to return from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the last two games against Manly and Canberra.
Cleary doesn’t see anything easy about the clash against the Rabbitohs, the only side yet to win a match in the 2006 competition after losing 18-26 to the Bulldogs yesterday.
“I thought they went really well against the Dogs and they’ll be desperate against us,†said Cleary.
Jason Robinson was today named as referee for the match.
Meanwhile, two other promising players will be back in first-grade contention for the Vodafone Warriors shortly.
Simon Mannering, the club’s 2005 rookie of the year, scored two tries for the Wellington Orcas in their Bartercard Cup win over Harbour League on Sunday. It was Mannering’s first game of the year after an extended lay-off with a stress fracture in his leg. And 18-year-old back rower Sonny Fai is closer to a playing return after shoulder surgery in the off-season.

 

[Warrior_Hot_Stepper_old]

Anyone herd about this player, Good Luck Mate

 

[Jesbass_old]

Yeah, I've heard him mentioned a few times, but I've never seen him play. He's supposed to be a quality talent.