Werribee Bears coach Aaron Tiananga is confident his club’s run to the Victorian Rugby League’s first grade finals can open doors for its most talented young players.
The Bears played in the top tier finals for the first time but had no state representatives or players affiliated with the Melbourne Storm at under-age level.
Tiananga said the time was right for the Storm and the state selectors to start looking at his players for representative duties.
“Hopefully selectors will start looking at our club,” Tiananga said.
“I can pinpoint quite a few players who should be in representative sides.”
“With us not having any representatives this year, it shows the strong base of players that we have in our team.”
PICTURE GALLERY: Werribee Bears v North West Wolves semi-final
Phillip Pese is at the top of the list of players Tiananga will be urging for a look in.
The 22-year-old full-back, who has played representative football in his native New Zealand, excited with his line-breaking runs this season.
“He’s been devastating,” Tiananga said.
“I’d say he’s up there as one of the best full-backs in the VRL.
“He’s still at that ripe age, but he’s got the rugby league smarts, he knows what to do and at that age, that’s really good.”
John Figota is another player Tiananga would be proud to spruik.
At just 19, he has taken on an immense role in the Bears forward pack with his fearless offence and solid defence.
“He’s built like a brick and has the speed and power combined in one,” Tiananga said.
If you want a proven try-scorer, look no further than Lealofisa Malasia. Malasia is a potent finisher out wide because of his ability to think ahead of the play and use his sidestep to good effect.
“He’s a try-scoring machine that boy,” Tiananga said. “He can step inside anyone because he’s got the speed and the execution.”
Tiananga said there was a hunger within the squad to get better and start making a play for representative teams.
What strikes him most is their passion for rugby league and their ambition to make it to a higher level.
“They breathe and live rugby league,” Tiananga said.
“They really want to make it into representative sides and even as far as the NRL.
“I’ll definitely try and push these boys if I can somehow help them because they deserve a look in.”
