Had the playmaker not come in that night, the injury could have proved fatal.
“Yeah, 100 per cent,” Byron said. “It was lucky he didn’t wait until the next morning, if you know what I mean. It’s lucky we came in when we did.
Blaize Talagi has made the Penrith No.6 jumper his own.Credit: Getty Images
“When he got there they put the drain through and drained the fluid out. We have come through the other side. He was pretty lucky.
“Anything could have happened. You know what kids are like, they try to brush things [off]. I’m just glad that mum knows the kids so much.”
Even Talagi himself, with the benefit of hindsight, can appreciate his good fortune.
“Thinking back to it, it was a pretty scary time,” Talagi said. “A punctured lung, it’s definitely not to be taken lightly. It was a pretty hard period for me being in hospital for two weeks.
Blaize talagi at the Panthers’ academy earlier this week.Credit: KATE GERAGHTY
“I got off the field and the doctor there said it was just a stitch. I didn’t want to go to hospital, didn’t want to go to the doctor or anything like that. It just got to a point where it got too bad, and my mum was like, ‘We’re going.’ I’m lucky we did.
“It was pretty serious, so I’m very grateful that we got it sorted out. I’m glad to move on from that, and I’m feeling good.”
There is every reason for Talagi to feel good about life at the moment. After a breakout debut NRL season at Parramatta, he has come of age at Penrith, playing in the halves alongside Nathan Cleary at a team attempting to win its fifth consecutive title.
It has been a successful shift, but one that also took its toll. The 20-year-old played most of his junior football for the Eels and was promised Clint Gutherson’s No.1 jersey. Deciding to instead accept an offer from arch-rivals Penrith was not a decision he made lightly.
“I felt for Blaize going through all that,” Byron said. “It wasn’t easy for him. Not so much the attention, he felt he didn’t want to let Parra down. They gave him an opportunity, putting other people before him. We are blessed to have good people around us to go through the pros and cons.
“We’ve got our own circle and Blaize values everyone’s opinion, but ultimately, it’s his call. He chose to go and learn, which is the best thing for him. At this time in his career, it’s all about learning. He’s at the right place.”
There were some challenges to overcome on arriving at the foot of the mountains: a shoulder injury that required surgery resulted in an interrupted off-season, and when the season proper commenced he began it in reserve grade.
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It was a step backwards for a youngster who had burst onto the NRL scene while still in his teens. When he eventually got the opportunity to pull on the No.6 jersey that Jarome Luai had made his own, the Panthers were on a losing streak that resulted in them sitting in last spot after 12 rounds.
“It wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows, but we’re in a good place,” Talagi said.
However, the move has been beneficial for all parties, with the Panthers eyeing a sixth consecutive grand final if they can defeat Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
And of course, there’s the chance to play with and learn from Cleary.
“He’s been really good,” Talagi said. “One of the main things I’ve learnt is just being able to watch what he does and playing off the back of that, that helps me so much. I just follow him around and follow what he does.”
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