Stampede...Martin Taupau forces Ben Hunt out of the way at Suncorp Stadium. Photo: NRL Photos.
Hard working Manly forward Siosaia Vave says Martin Taupau will bring the ‘mongrel’ back into the Sea Eagles pack when he returns from suspension this Monday night.
Taupau has missed the last three matches for the Sea Eagles after being suspended following the round 10 loss to Brisbane Broncos. He has played nine matches in his first season with Manly.
With prop Nate Myles injured, Manly Coach Trent Barrett has selected the powerful Taupau in the front-row to partner Darcy Lussick for the away match against the Gold Coast Titans.
Vave dismissed talk that the NZ Test player was down on form.
“Marty is a great player and it is good to have him in our forward pack, so he will bring some mongrel back. It is just good to have him back,’’ Vave said.
“He has been one of our top metre gainers and top tacklers every game.
“Just because he is not making (his) barnstorming runs (doesn’t mean his form is down), he is doing his job for us. He is doing a real good job for us.
“The last five weeks, he has been ripping in at training while he has been suspended. He doesn’t need to prove anything or bring anything extra to us.
“I just hope he plays his normal game with a lot of energy and aggression.”
Video: Watch here the video of Vave speaking about his team-mates ‘tough love’ talk.
