Taumalolo in unique four-time award win

COWBOYS superstar Jason Taumalolo has entered rare air after being awarded the club’s most illustrious player award for a record equalling fourth time.

After another standout season, the Tongan wrecking ball pulled level with retired superstar Johnathan Thurston on four Bowman Medal wins, but became the club’s first to win the award four years in a row.

Handed the medal at the club’s awards night at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre yesterday, the fan favourite also received the 2019 Members Player of the Year award.

In receiving the torch from Thurston as the Cowboys’ best player, Cowboys director of football Peter Parr said it was a “wonderful achievement” for Taumalolo.

“To get four in a row is pretty well unheard of at any club, and given some of the players we’ve had, it’s an incredible achievement,” Parr said.

“To think he missed seven games through injury and played under duress, Jason’s got a lot of wonderful attributes and at the top of that list is consistency.

“You’d be hard pressed to find a quiet game from him in the last few years and it’s not often he doesn’t play well.”

In other awards, the recently re-signed Ben Hampton was honoured for his attitude and dedication by receiving the nod for Cowboys’ Clubman of the Year.

Putting pen to paper for a further two years on Tuesday, the versatile Mareeba product, who missed a large chunk of the season after rupturing a bicep in Round 10, was singled out for his “team first attitude” and professionalism on and off the field.

“I don’t think there’d be anyone more fitting than him (to win the award),” Parr said.

Joining Hampton as another former Storm player to stand out in Cowboys’ colours was vice-captain Jordan McLean, who was handed the club’s Players’ Player of the Year award. Shane Wright was the Cowboys’ Rookie of the Year and Frank Molo won the Coach Award.