Taulagi gets opportunity to make statement from centre stage

THE circumstances may be bittersweet, but Murray Taulagi is relishing the chance to stake his claim to a long-term centre spot.

A season-ending knee injury to Javid Bowen has resulted in a backline shift for the Cowboys, with Taulagi moving in off his wing and Kane Bradley earning a debut.

Coach Todd Payten conAT firmed where Taulagi would play in the future had been a core part of his contract negotiations, with the 22-year-old’s current tenure in North Queensland ending at the end of the season.

While Taulagi would not elaborate on where those discussions were at, he admitted that centre was his preferred position.

However, he said he hoped to remain in Townsville for as long as he could, and saw his opportunity in the centres against Melbourne as his chance to prove himself.

“I’m not going to talk about it too much, I wouldn’t mind staying here but I’ll let Toddy and my agent do all of those negotiations,” Taulagi said.

“Hopefully I can show them I can play centre. It’s just getting my hands on the ball a bit earlier and trying to help out on the inside as well in defence – those are the main things I’m looking forward to.

“It’s somewhere I’m looking to play and this week I get the opportunity to do that.”

Taulagi has shown impressive moments out wide, particularly during North Queensland’s winning run prior to the bye.

Thus far he has featured in every game since round three, and scored 10 tries.

Now that injury has opened the door for him to impress in his preferred position, Payten declared the youngster had the opportunity to make a profound statement.

“Murray’s had a fair bit of experience in the centres in his junior career,” he said.

“We’ve had several conversations in the last month throughout his contract negotiations and he wants to be a centre. He’s doing a great job for us on the wing, I don’t think he’s going to be out of his depth. He’s a very confident kid and here’s a chance for him to push for a full-time centre spot.”

Already Taulagi has played alongside Bowen, Connelly Lemuelu, Hamiso TabuaiFidow and Justin O’Neill on the left edge, and now he has another combination to adjust to, with Bradley coming in for his maiden NRL appearance on the wing.