http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,25733607-5006066,00.html
STANDING at 192cm and weighing 100kg, Wests Tigers winger Peni Tagive has been described as a Lote Tuqiri double. St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett, who moulded Tuqiri's NRL career, has sneaked under the Tigers' guard to sign Tagive to a two-year deal.
From the production line that produced Israel Folau, Krisnan Inu and Jarryd Hayne, Tagive, 20, will join one of the game's best backlines.
"It was a very hard decision because I have been with the Tigers since school,'' Tagive said. "I grew up in Campbelltown, so they were always my club. But at this stage of my career I just felt I had to make a move. Going to play under Wayne Bennett was a big attraction and I felt really encouraged when I met with him.''
Tagive graduated from the 2006 Australian Schoolboys side that contained Folau, Chris Lawrence, Mitchell Pearce, Chris Sandow and Tim Mannah.
"I remember having a close look at him when I was coaching the Queensland side,'' said Australian Schoolboys coach Brendan Barlow. "He was just so tall and athletic. He was probably a bit green back then, but he was obviously good enough to go on and partner Israel Folau in the centres in the Australian Schoolboys team. He looks like a kid with a big future.''
Injury has restricted Tagive to just eight NRL games but the Fijian flyer has shown enough to suggest he is a player of the future. "Tim Sheens has been great to me,'' Tagive said. "I know I have been injured a bit and I haven't been able to give them a lot of time on the field. I just need to move on and take a step forward.''
Tagive's manager, Sam Ayoub, revealed the East Campbelltown junior was being hunted by several NRL clubs. "There were a few clubs interested in Peni, but after meeting with Wayne he felt the Dragons would be the best fit for him,'' Ayoub said. "He has been restricted by a couple of shoulder injuries but he has stuck in there. He is very committed to the game and ... and I think he has a very big future.''
Former Wests Tigers forward Scott Sattler this year compared Tagive to dual international Tuqiri in terms of size and pace. "He's cut from the same mould as Lote Tuqiri - a big, strong athlete - so he can play like another forward, and he's lightning fast,'' Sattler said.
"I'm tipping he's going to be something out of the box. He's almost 100kg and he can really fly.''
STANDING at 192cm and weighing 100kg, Wests Tigers winger Peni Tagive has been described as a Lote Tuqiri double. St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett, who moulded Tuqiri's NRL career, has sneaked under the Tigers' guard to sign Tagive to a two-year deal.
From the production line that produced Israel Folau, Krisnan Inu and Jarryd Hayne, Tagive, 20, will join one of the game's best backlines.
"It was a very hard decision because I have been with the Tigers since school,'' Tagive said. "I grew up in Campbelltown, so they were always my club. But at this stage of my career I just felt I had to make a move. Going to play under Wayne Bennett was a big attraction and I felt really encouraged when I met with him.''
Tagive graduated from the 2006 Australian Schoolboys side that contained Folau, Chris Lawrence, Mitchell Pearce, Chris Sandow and Tim Mannah.
"I remember having a close look at him when I was coaching the Queensland side,'' said Australian Schoolboys coach Brendan Barlow. "He was just so tall and athletic. He was probably a bit green back then, but he was obviously good enough to go on and partner Israel Folau in the centres in the Australian Schoolboys team. He looks like a kid with a big future.''
Injury has restricted Tagive to just eight NRL games but the Fijian flyer has shown enough to suggest he is a player of the future. "Tim Sheens has been great to me,'' Tagive said. "I know I have been injured a bit and I haven't been able to give them a lot of time on the field. I just need to move on and take a step forward.''
Tagive's manager, Sam Ayoub, revealed the East Campbelltown junior was being hunted by several NRL clubs. "There were a few clubs interested in Peni, but after meeting with Wayne he felt the Dragons would be the best fit for him,'' Ayoub said. "He has been restricted by a couple of shoulder injuries but he has stuck in there. He is very committed to the game and ... and I think he has a very big future.''
Former Wests Tigers forward Scott Sattler this year compared Tagive to dual international Tuqiri in terms of size and pace. "He's cut from the same mould as Lote Tuqiri - a big, strong athlete - so he can play like another forward, and he's lightning fast,'' Sattler said.
"I'm tipping he's going to be something out of the box. He's almost 100kg and he can really fly.''
