Dyldam Parramatta Eels winger Vai Toutai says his time playing in NSW Cup has helped him to improve his game, and he certainly put it on show with two tries in the Eels’ Round 14 win.
With the absence of Will Hopoate and Ken Sio, opportunity opened up for Toutai on the wing where he hasn’t made an appearance since round three.
“It feels good to get back into the team, and the tries I think were a bonus. The whole team was working hard.”
Toutai's attacking form hasn't been in doubt - his appearances in first-grade earlier this season netted him four tries from just three games - and Toutai says Head Coach Brad Arthur’s message to him during his time with the Wentworthville Magpies was to focus on his defensive skills.
“He did give me some goals to work on," Toutai said.
"It was mainly my defensive reads, and I’ve been working on that in NSW Cup,” he said.
“[I’m] just trying to work on my high balls because I wasn’t really good at that at the start of the year so I’ve been working a lot on that and also holding my line in defence.”
“It’s a really big step up to the NRL, it’s more physical and a much faster game compared to NSW Cup."
