ACT Brumbies winger Lausii Taliauli turned down offers from rival clubs to make his mark in Canberra and prove to coach Stephen Larkham he can forge a long Super Rugby career.
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Former Australian sevens player Taliauli committed to a one-year extension on Thursday and has his sights set on being the successor to Wallabies flyer Joseph Tomane.
The Brumbies will be looking for fringe players to rise to a new level next year as they come to terms with the departure of Tomane, Stephen Moore, David Pocock, Matt Toomua and the absence of Christian Lealiifano.
The new-look line-up will give players such as Taliauli a chance to stand tall after playing 15 games in the past two years in Canberra in a back-up role to Tomane and Henry Speight.
"It's a big chance for me to put up my hand, step up and have a dig at getting that [starting spot]," Taliauli said.
"I held out until the Brumbies made me an offer and that's why I'm here. We just had to wait for the right time.
"I want to make my mark and seal my future for years to come. I'd definitely love to play more years at the Brumbies ... the coaches want to see me develop and grow, so I'm looking forward to that challenge.
"Next year is a really good opportunity for me and a few other blokes to show what we have to get that starting spot with Joe Tomane gone."
Taliauli joined the Brumbies after a stint with the Australian sevens team. His Olympic Games dream was scuttled by a slow Australian citizenship process and he turned to Super Rugby for a chance to play.
He hasn't ruled out a future return to sevens or the potential of chasing a spot for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, but says Brumbies success is his No.1 priority.
"At the moment I don't really want [to go back to sevens], I'm just focused on playing well for the Brumbies," Taliauli said.
"Maybe later on in my career [sevens] might be an option. But not now. I love the challenges the coaches here throw at us and next year is massive. I'm looking forward to showing the coaches I've got what it takes."
Taliauli will get his first chance to make a statement when the Canberra Vikings play the Sydney Rays in their National Rugby Championship fixture in Sydney on Saturday.
Vikings coach Wayne Southwell has made mass changes to his line-up in the penultimate round before the finals, promoting Canberra club players to give them a crack at a semi-professional level.
Brothers Ray and Nick Dobson will play together for the Vikings for the first time, while Queanbeyan veteran Dan Penca will line up against Rays flanker and Brumbies recruit Chris Alcock in a battle of the No.7s.
Nick Jooste moves to flyhalf, while Robbie Coleman will play at fullback and Tuggeranong's Jake Rakic starts at outside centre. Tim Horan's son, Alex, will get his first NRC start off the bench.
NRC ROUND 6
Saturday: Sydney Rays v Canberra Vikings at Pittwater Park, 3pm.
Vikings team: 15. Robbie Coleman, 14. Eli Sinoti, 13. Jake Rakic, 12. Jordan Jackson-Hope, 11. Lausii Taliaulu, 10. Nick Jooste, 9. Brent Hamlin, 8. OJ Noa, 7. Dan Penca, 6. Jordan Smiler, 5. Tom Staniforth, 4. Blake Enever, 3. Ray Dobson, 2. Robbie Abel, 1. Faalelei Sione. Reserves: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. Sione Taula, 18. Nick Dobson, 19. Darcy Swain, 20. Dean Oakman-Hunt, 21. Joe Powell, 22. Alex Horan, 23. Andrew Robinson.
