Taumalolo charges to milestone
COWBOYS weapon Jason Taumalolo is officially the most explosive forward in NRL history.
Taumalolo is on the verge of becoming the first forward in the competition’s 20season existence to crack the magical 5000m mark in Sunday’s grand final against Melbourne.
The reigning Dally M Medal champion has racked up 4946m in 25 games this season at an average of 198m and needs just 54m to burst through the 5km barrier.
Former Roosters flyer Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is the only player to have eclipsed 5000m (5795m in 2015) since Fox Sports Lab started recording the statistic in 1999, the second season of the NRL.
Taumalolo, 24, averaged 166m a game last year (4486m total) on his way to sharing the game’s best player honours with Storm halfback Cooper Cronk.
While the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Burgess have been classed as the NRL’s best big men in recent years, Taumalolo’s numbers blow them off the park.
The quietly spoken Kiwi holds the key to North Queensland’s title hopes at ANZ Stadium on Sunday and said even he was surprised by his output.
“My body is feeling it a bit,” Taumalolo said.
“To be honest, I don’t worry about numbers. I just try and do my best every time I carry the ball and it’s my job to get good metres down field for the boys to play off the back of.
“I’m trying to add some variety to my game. I am trying to move the ball around if I can.
“I’ve never been a big stats guy but when you put it in context, it is a whole lot of metres.
“When we do our team reviews, the coaches put up my stats and it does surprise me. I’ve been doing my job consistently over the last few weeks. I put my hand up being one of the senior boys to try and get the boys going and take on a bit of a leadership role.”
Taumalolo started the season in sensational touch, racking up 281m in Round 1, and a two-match shoulder charge suspension has cost him even more metres.
The Storm boast an imposing forward rotation of giants Jesse Bromwich (194cm, 114kg), Jordan McLean (196cm, 115kg) and Nelson Asofa-Solomona (200cm, 115kg), meaning Taumalolo’s impact will have a huge bearing on the result.
Halfback Michael Morgan has been North Queensland’s hero throughout the finals with Johnathan Thurston (shoulder) on the sideline but admitted Taumalolo’s performance could decide the premiership.
“I’m not the man this Sunday, Jase is the man,” Morgan said.
“I really think he is the best forward that’s been in our a game for a while.”
“I’M I REALLY THINK HE IS THE BEST FORWARD THAT’S BEEN IN OUR A GAME FOR A WHILE MICHAEL MORGAN