Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs has thrown down the gauntlet to his Sharks counterpart Siosifa Talakai ahead of what looms as an explosive one-on-one match-up next week.
Staggs and the Broncos withstood a valiant effort from the Bulldogs, eventually running out 34-14 winners, and the 23-year-old wasted little time before looking ahead.
The match-up between the two centres looms as a blockbuster clash, following Talakai’s frightening performance in the Sharks’ win over the Sea Eagles on Thursday, where he finished with two tries and three assists.
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“He’s been going good and that’s another opponent that I’ve got to come up against,” Staggs said when asked about the Talakai match-up.
“I’ve just got to play my footy and back what I can do and I’ll give him a run for his money.
“We played the Sharks at Suncorp last time and I think we were a try each against each other, so it’ll be pretty good to come up against him again.”
Staggs’ comments came after Talakai caught the attention of New South Wales State of Origin coach Brad Fittler with his performance against Manly.
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“He played in some pathways with NSW,” Fittler said on Nine’s NRL coverage.
“He’s a proud Tongan man, there’s a mid-season Test for Tonga at the same time as the second Origin… but he is a NSW boy.
“They can play for NSW and Tonga. It’s a Tier 2 nation.”