Young Rabbitoh Tallis reveals idol's priceless one-liner

Tallis Duncan, the young Rabbitohs backrower named after legendary rugby league hardman Gorden Tallis, can remember a priceless story he was told about the “Raging Bull”.

“My dad was telling me one time … he was in a celebrity game and he told someone he was going to squash them like a pimple,” Duncan said with a laugh as he talked to media on Tuesday.

“I thought that was pretty funny.”

Duncan is a 21-year-old South Sydney forward hoping to carve out a rugby league career in the mould of Tallis, whose aggressive style as a Dragons, Broncos, Maroons and Kangaroos enforcer in the 1990s and 2000s became the stuff of legend.

Among Tallis’ iconic moments was the time he manhandled into touch NSW fullback Brett Hodgson in game three of the 2002 State of Origin series. In the famous words of legendary Nine caller Ray Warren, Hodgson was “lassoed by Tallis”.

Duncan played just his 11th NRL game as the Rabbitohs beat the Bulldogs 20-16 on Good Friday.

The New South Welshman has only ever started on the bench in the NRL, but is hoping to become a regular starter under coach Jason Demetriou.

“I’ve always liked the name,” Duncan said.