Wests Tigers say big Kiwis forward Martin Taupau could hold the key to victory for them in their NRL clash with the Sydney Roosters on Friday night.
Taupau had one of the best games of his career when he set the tempo for New Zealand's Test win over Australia in Brisbane on Sunday with his bulldozing runs.
Coming up against a Roosters side which Tigers coach Jason Taylor calls the benchmark of the competition, the Tigers say they are expecting Taupau to again set the tone.
"I felt Marty followed on from the way he's played for us so far this year," Taylor said on Thursday.
"He was really impressive in the Test. We're looking forward to him continuing that."
The back-rower moved to Concord from Canterbury last season in search of more minutes.
There will be those at Bulldogs headquarters who would have wished they had hung onto the 25-year-old after watching him blossom over the past 12 months after making his Test debut in last year's trans-Tasman Test.
"He's starting games which is something he's really enjoying," Taylor said.
"I think Marty was developing to this. Having watched him over the last few years I thought he played really well for New Zealand in the back end of last year and he's continued that on."
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