Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: The Starford To'a Flourish
After being recruited and developed by Newcastle Knights, Mt Wellington Warriors junior Starford To'a took up a summer move to Wests Tigers where he linked up with Aotearoa Kiwis coach Michael Maguire. To'a made his move late in the summer and earlier in the summer, Glenfield junior Christian Ma'anaima made the same move after also being recruited and developed by Knights.
Ma'anaima has been playing Tigers Under 21s this season, while Knights are all good with their Kiwi-NRL stocks as Leo Thompson (Napier Boys College) has blossomed as a bench forward alongside Simi Sasagi (Ellerslie - now named at centre). Jirah Momoisea (St Paul's College) also enjoyed some bench minutes before suffering another unfortunate injury. Thompson and Sasagi provide plenty of Kiwi-NRL intrigue as Knights struggle.
This is about To'a though and how he has helped Tigers snare back to back wins. To'a was primarily viewed as a winger with Knights and his first game for Tigers was in round three with To'a starting on the wing against Warriors. Next game had To'a as 18th-man, then To'a plugged a hole at fullback in round five. Coach Maguire dipped into his bag of tricks for the Eels game, naming To'a on the wing in place of Ken Maumalo before they formed a centre/wing combo by game time.
To'a played 60 minutes at centre before Maumalo left the game and To'a shifted to play wing for the final stanza. Similar thing happened in the win over Rabbitohs with To'a playing the first half at centre before Daine Laurie's injury saw To'a shift to fullback. To'a had a try assist on the left edge while playing centre as he executed an overlap with Maumalo…
Then a sweeping play off a scrum set up David Nofoaluma on the right edge when To’a was playing fullback…
Two different positions and two try assists. To'a starting at centre in these two wins is obviously a coincidence more than anything else, also highlighting the skillset that made To'a such a decorated junior in Aotearoa. To'a probably would have been stuck out on the wing at Knights where he isn't quite as powerful as other wings to churn out the same mahi. To'a feels better suited to the centre position where his all-round play is an asset, while also providing versatility in covering all backline positions.
In two big games, To'a has showcased his natural footy ability as well as executing his role under pressure. Coach Maguire has the hearty Aotearoa link and as noted in the yarn from when Maguire signed To'a, the Tigers coach appears to be providing a lovely, comfy space for young Kiwi-NRL troopers. Maguire snared To'a in a late summer move from Knights and Maumalo mid-season from Warriors. Asu Kepaoa played plenty of footy with To'a in Auckland before Maguire signed Kepaoa in a mid-season move from Roosters.
Tap into To'a and his Tigers footy because this will provide greater insights around Tigers Kiwi-NRL development under coach Maguire. This is low key evident in Maumalo flourishing as a leader, while the likes of Junior Pauga, Israel Ogden, Austin Dias, Tukimihia Simpkins and Joseph Taipari are grinding away in NSW Cup. Tigers still have plenty of Kiwi-NRL lads in their lower grades as well and how To'a progresses could set the tone for the young Kiwi-NRL Tigers.
To'a fits into the trend of Kiwi-NRL fullbacks being all over the mixer. Te Maire Martin has returned to NRL footy at fullback for Broncos, while Jamayne Isaako plugged a hole there for Titans before being replaced for this round. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad lost his fullback gig for Raiders and Jordan Rapana has plugged that hole.
To'a also fits into the strange world of Kiwi-NRL centres alongside Patrick Herbert, Morgan Harper, Matthew Timoko, Jesse Arthars, Adam Pompey, Joey Manu, Dylan Brown (lol), Peta Hiku and Reimis Smith. Funky yarns can be spun for each of these centre lads and apart from Manu's excellence, there is no standout specialist for the Aotearoa Kiwis fullback gig.
This is not to say that To'a is a starting Aotearoa Kiwis centre or fullback. To'a represents Kiwi-NRL lads getting opportunities, as well as the Kiwi-NRL mayhem in these positions. Tune in with To'a and you will learn plenty about Kiwi-NRL footy as well as enjoying encouraging Tigers footy.
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