Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire will let others see if Tommy Talau bears a striking resemblance to his old man, Willie, when he debuts on Thursday night.
But if they’re counting on physical traits alone, they might miss him.
Willie weighed stood at 182 centimetres and weighed around 93 kilograms for most of the six seasons he spent in the centres at Canterbury between 1998-03.
Tommy, who will be unleashed against Manly in the same position, enters the league two kilograms heavier and seven centimetres taller than his dad.
“Yeah, he’s a good size. We need a bit of that,” Maguire said.
Tommy shone in the Bulldogs’ under-18s team last year, guiding them to the grand final before being picked in the Australian Schoolboys team.
But he was lured to the Tigers on a development contract and began in the under-20s, before being fast-tracked to their reserve grade team.
The 19-year-old was moved into the club’s full-time squad in June.
Now, after spending a number of weeks on an extended bench, Talau gets his chance following a hip flexor injury to skipper Moses Mbye.
“There’s nothing better than being able to blood a young kid that’s been doing a lot of work in the background,” Maguire said.
“He’s young, coming into the team, and throughout the season I’ve really seen him develop his game and it’s really well deserved.”
But Maguire declined to be drawn on whether Tommy drew any comparisons to his father, who scored nine tries in 13 Tests for New Zealand.
“Look, I think I’ll let everyone else determine that when he plays. I think he’ll forge his own name as he goes throughout his career,” Maguire said.
“It’s a good story, Tommy.
“To see how he’s come in as a real young kid there at the start of the year and he’s been able to watch some really professional players in front of him.
“He’s really taken that on board. I think it’s great to see him having a run.”