At times, Taine Tuaupiki has cut defences to ribbons with his speed and footwork. Photo: NRL Photos/Photosport
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Taine Tuaupiki's ears are still ringing from a less-than-complimentary post-game review, when he hears some words that should give him heart.
"He's been awesome," coach Andrew Webster insisted, with his charge listening from the back of the room.
"Taine's always willing to learn and do what's best for the team, and I think his versatility has been unreal."
In reality, Tuaupiki was somewhere short of awesome last weekend.
As North Queensland Cowboys finished fast over the closing half hour of their 'Magic Round' encounter, the rookie winger seemed caught in the headlights at times, with his rightside defence victimised for two tries and another disallowed that would have levelled the scores, with a sideline conversion to come.
One of the tries found him caught infield and out of his line by a floating pass that put opposite Murray Taulagi into the corner.
Another was the direct result of Tuaupiki bobbling what should have been a vicious bounce into the arms of Cowboys second-rower Jeremiah Nanai, who gratefully snapped it up to score.
Tuaupiki was also the culprit in the first half, when he missed a tackle on Nanai 40 metres out and centre Jaxson Purdue ran off his teammate for their opening try.
This was not a vintage performance from a player who had never played on the wing at this level before this NRL season - but his coach still had his back.
"That's pretty nice to hear from him," Tuaupiki offered. "We had a pretty honest chat this morning - obviously, I didn't go too well on the weekend, but I've still got the confidence I can do a job out there.
"To hear that from him was cool."
Previously serving exclusively as understudy to fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Tuaupiki has never disappointed in the No.1 jersey, dazzling with his matchwinning turn against Penrith Panthers in last year's Magic Round.
When veteran Dallin Watene-Zelezniak broke his wrist in the pre-season, Tuaupiki was moved to the wing and asked to master a slightly different skillset.
"Playing anywhere in the 13 gives you an appreciation of how hard it is to play NRL," he admitted. "Being on the wing makes me appreciate how easy it is to play fullback.
"Getting these games under my belt, I'm sure, will help me in the long run, whatever position I end up playing."
At times, his shortish stature (1.78m/5ft10 in) has been exploited by opposing kickers in aerial exchanges with much taller rivals.
Taine Tuaupiki's shortish stature has occasionally been exploited in aerial exchanges. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
At other times, his speed and footwork have cut defences to ribbons, but this was probably more pronounced with room to move at fullback, where he showed his true worth against Brisbane Broncos, when Nicoll-Klokstad sat out with concussion.
"Whenever he does go back to his normal position one day, he will be so grateful for the experience and so will we," Webster continued, "It has broadened his horizons about the game of footy and he's handled it really well."
Another lapse from Tuaupiki inadvertently produced the defining moment of the Cowboys game, when halfback Luke Metcalf dashed across in cover defence to drag Taulagi into touch and deny the levelling try.
"I was the one that actually let the linebreak through," he confessed. "That was pretty disappointing for me.
"I got caught offside by the ref, as I was about to make the tackle, and I shouldn't have pulled out, but I did and just let Drinkwater straight through.
"Pretty lucky… I owe Met. He doesn't really drink beers, so I owe him a few coffees for that one."
His summation of the review suggested he had plenty to rectify, but was fortunate to learn those valuable lessons in a winning effort.
"It's pretty much standard coach chat," Tuaupiki said. "When you review the game, you know it's coming.
"If you let in a try or two, that's what the conversation was about, mainly my defensive reads."
On the other hand, there were a couple of highlights he could cling onto. He likely denied a try, when he popped up in the Cowboys attacking line to deflect a pass with the line beckoning.
Taine Tuaupiki and captain Mitch Barnett celebrate Warriors win over Newcastle Knights. Photo: www.photosport.nz
In truth, he was probably seeking a similar result, when Taulagi scored at the other end later.
In the dying moments, he fielded a grubber kick on his goal-line and sprinted 40 metres upfield to earn some crucial breathing room.
With Watene-Zelezniak named to return against St George Dragons this week and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck not too far behind, Tuaupiki's time in the starting line-up - certainly on the wing - may be drawing to an end for now.
Nicoll-Klokstad has extended his tenure at Mt Smart at least another two years and his protégé - who also re-signed over the off-season - may soon find himself back in reserve grade, awaiting his next opportunity.
There's no hint of bitterness from Tuaupiki at that prospect.
"I don't know if you know, but he actually re-signed to be a centre," he teased the media. "Nah, jokes.
"Although I am behind him position-wise, Charnze is someone you need at the club. I'm pretty sure everyone in the team would say the same thing and Webby would as well.
"He's just one of those guys you need, whether he's playing fullback or any other position. We don't have too many like Charnze, so when you've got one, you can't really let him go."
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