Taumalolo ‘ has plenty to prove’ as future leader
JASON Taumalolo may be averaging nearly 200m a game, but the Cowboys forward does not feel that those mammoth efforts make him a leader.
The North Queensland wrecking ball stood out as one of his team’s best again on Saturday night, running for 208m and making nine tackle busts.
The Cowboys sunk to eighth on the ladder following the 24- 16 loss to the Panthers, which saw Justin O’Neill ( elbow) and Michael Morgan ( concussion) sidelined while Lachlan Coote ( leg) limped through the final 20 minutes.
Then it was last year’s joint Dally M winner Taumalolo who led from the front.
But he says he is doing his job.
Taumalolo, who simply last year said he did not know if he had what it took to be a future Cowboys captain, said that even with the injuries, he does not feel like a true leader yet.
He also felt like he was still proving himself after last year’s egg- throwing incident, in which he was charged by police.
“I’m trying to eventually become a leader,” he said.
“Last year’s incident set me back a bit. But there’s enough experience in the team and I’m doing my best. I’m learning off a few of the boys.
“Morgo’s a natural born leader and he showed that in his short stint on the field ( on Saturday).
“I’m picking up a thing or two every now and then but I still think I have a fair bit to go.”
Taumalolo said when the Cowboys have been hit with injuries this year he does not think about leading the team, but more about picking up the workload.
Despite his own misgivings about his leadership skills, coach Paul Green applauded Taumalolo’s efforts on Saturday night.
He said the Kiwi star and fellow forward Scott Bolton could be relied on to step up.