Tallis set for comeback
January 18, 2005
LESS than four months since retiring from rugby league, Gorden Tallis is making a comeback. Well, sort of.
The former Brisbane, Queensland and Australian warhorse will dust the cobwebs off his footy boots in time for this weekend's Orara Valley Sevens tournament in Coffs Harbour.
The tournament, hosted by Oscar winning actor and local resident Russell Crowe, will feature a plethora of former NRL greats.
Tallis will be joined in his side by former stars Phil Blake, Cliff Lyons, Mark Geyer and Tim Brasher.
Tallis, who played 17 Origins for Queensland and 11 Tests for Australia, said he was excited about playing with so many former greats.
"Russell Crowe's organised a competition and he's invited a few players along and I got an invite so I'm going to play," he said.
"They're all old retired blokes (playing in the side).
"I think Alfie (Langer) and Kevvie Walters were both invited but I don't know what they're doing yet.
"They're probably both a bit too fat and old, a bit like myself."
Tallis said he was confident the northern New South Wales public would support the tournament, with all proceeds set to be donated to junior rugby league in the area.
"It's a great cause, all the money's going to the junior rugby league down there," he said.
"My first priority is to help the game in the bush ... blokes like Cliffy Lyons and Phil Blake, they were my heroes so to play against blokes like that is a once in a lifetime opportunity."
It's not only local teams that will feature in the tournament.
Teams from Fiji and the United States have nominated in the hope of collecting the $10,000 winners' cheque.
Tomahawks skipper and recent Broncos signing Ian Blake said he was looking forward to locking horns with Tallis.
"I'd try to mix it up with him a little bit but I don't think anyone would be able to get the better of him," Blake said.
Meanwhile, Broncos pair Broncos players Tom Learoyd and Gary Tupou have undergone name changes.
A shy Tupou told coach Wayne Bennett last year his Christian name was Gary when in fact that was his surname.
"My real name is Siokatame, which was my grandfather's name, but a lot of people have trouble with my Christian name so we shortened it to Tame (pronounced Tarmay)," the 22-year-old winger explained.
"I knew that I would have to repeat my name to Wayne when I introduced myself, and I did not want that to be the focus of our first meeting."
Learoyd will be known as Tom Learoyd-Lars to honour the role his father, Michael Lars, played in his upbringing.
He had decided to include his father's surname with that of his mother and stepfather to "get the confusion out of the way nice and early in the season".
Both players have formally asked their club and the NRL to adjust records, media guides and programs to use their preferred names.
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,11978413-23210,00.html
AAP
The "Raging Bull" taking on the "Raging Kiwi" Russell Crowe is what I would be hoping to see from that weekend though I don't think Russ will don the boots in this event 
