Taufua to bounce back for Manly

Manly winger Jorge Taufua has fallen from State of Origin hopeful to Sea Eagles outcast this NRL season, but has declared he’ll bounce back in 2015.

Last year Taufua finished as the Sea Eagles top try-scorer, but he was left out of Saturday night’s elimination final loss to Canterbury after being embarrassingly exposed under the high ball in recent weeks.

Taufua’s confidence appeared shot as North Queensland and then South Sydney continually targeted him with success.

Earlier in the year Newcastle also peppered him with bombs, in a match he admits may have turned NSW selectors away from picking him for an Origin debut.

However, Taufua – one of the most destructive ball-runners in the game – says it’s a mental hurdle he’s confident he can overcome.

Taufua could do worse than pick up the phone to Warriors game-breaker Manu Vatuvei for advice, after admitting demons inside his head get the better of him in matches after he makes errors.

Vatuvei has gone from bumbling basket-case early in his career to one of the game’s best wingers.

“I bring it on myself and I let it sit there instead of worrying about the next play,” Taufua told AAP.

“If that (Newcastle match) was an audition to get into Origin, I wouldn’t have picked me.

“It’s something I have to address and pick up for next year.

“I’m just looking forward to the future at the moment.

“This year has been very challenging for me and something I’ll take a lot of learning from.

“I’d like to get back to last year’s form and I can’t wait to get right.”

Taufua doesn’t want to make excuses but says a shoulder injury he requires off-season surgery on has hampered him since the early rounds of the season.

“My confidence wasn’t really there,” he said.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!