Inverell half-back Pulu Maea offloads to a team-mate against Pirates in Tamworth earlier in the year. The two match up at Inverell tomorrow. Maea has added a lot of spark to the Highlanders although last week his locks looked a bit different to this blonde after dying his hair red. Jim Matthews is the Pirates player. Photo: Barry Smith 260512BSH03
HE hasn’t reaped the individual accolades this season but Tala Vea has been Inverell’s rock in the middle of the scrum.
The hooker has been regularly mentioned by coach Dave Kearsey as among their best and has been a big part of the Highlanders’ resurgence.
They’re on the cusp of another grand final berth and will tackle defending champions Pirates tomorrow for the right to meet Walcha in the decider.
The Highlanders had the chance to avoid this game but couldn’t take advantage of their opportunities.
Fortunately though they get a second chance.
Vea was in the thick of the action against the Rams but did come off towards the end of the game in some discomfort.
“I got hit right on the knee joint,” he said.
“I had a bit of a bruise and it swelled up after the game but it’s come down now.”
He is right to go, and hoping to win through to another grand final.
“This is our last chance for a grand final,” he said.
“Hopefully we can get that win.”
The Tongan is one of a couple of players whohave been involved in both the Highlanders’ premiership wins.
He came over about nine years ago, he counted.
“I came out to play rugby. That’s why I first came,” he said.
He loved it so much he stayed.
This season he’s been joined by a few more of his countrymen.
It’s been fun having them around and they’ve certainly added a lot.
They’re another of the reasons for the Highlanders making the finals after missing out last season.
Vea has been pretty happy with his season.
“This year I didn’t get any injuries,” he said.
Last season was a bit disrupted, with Vea struggling with injuries.
“I hurt my ankle, then I hurt my other ankle,” he said.
He initially hurt his ankle while away with Country.
He did it training the Friday night before they played Queensland Country.
“I was disappointed. I was looking forward to the game,” Vea said.
He then got to play about 10-15 minutes of their game against Melbourne before hurting the other ankle.
Still, it was pretty exciting to make the Country team, he said, but it meant he only got to play about half the season, and no finals.
Pirates tomorrow will be tough, he said, but the Highlanders have it in them to beat them.
They do have a couple of things they need to fix up though.
“Our main problem at the moment is penalties,” Vea said.
It was an issue at the start of the season and last week their infringements helped keep Walcha in the game.
“We need to play smart against them,” Vea said.
They managed to snag a draw last time they met Pirates but only just and won’t want to be leaving it to the final seconds again.