Easts Tigers standout Taj Annan has a bright future and is one to watch after representing the Queensland Reds in trials and the Junior Wallabies in his first year out of school.
Competing in both the Premier Grade and Colts 1 sides throughout the 2022 season, Annan will play against Brothers this Sunday for a spot in the Colts 1 Grand Final against the University of Queensland.
After an inconsistent start to the season, Annan’s Easts side won six of their last eight games to ensure a finals berth.
They continued their fine form into the finals with a gutsy win over Wests last Sunday.
Annan placed the success of the season on “the team's ability to install belief within the group, especially the will to win.”
A Brisbane Boys College graduate, Taj played two years in the 1st XV in 2020 and 2021 and described the transition from schoolboy Rugby to club as “challenging”.
“It’s a big step up with the physicality of men's rugby considering at schoolboy level there's a lot of 16-year-olds,” he said said.
Despite this, Annan represented Australia in the U20s side mid-year and was one of the younger members of the squad at just 18.
Annan’s utility value saw him as a valuable asset to the team, with his ability to play multiple positions in the backline key throughout the Oceania U20s tournament.
“It was an awesome experience as I got to meet a lot of new boys from different states as well as have the opportunity to play against Argentina and a few other countries,” he said.
“Representing your country is something you dream of as a kid.”
Annan’s goal for next year is to “get some trial time with the Reds again and have a full year of Premier Grade Rugby.”
For now however, his focus remains firmly fixed on the Tigers’ Colts 1 premiership charge, which continues against minor premiers Brothers this weekend.
The Brethren were narrowly beaten by UQ in last week’s major semi-final, while Easts kept their season alive with a comprehensive 29-9 win over Wests.
The sides will face off at Bond University this Sunday at 12:00pm, with the winner advancing to the Grand Final against Uni.
