The winning edge
THE Cowboys may continue to pinch hit Jason Taumalolo on the edge so he can play 80 minutes after the experiment’s resounding success in Thursday’s 26- 12 win over Manly.
In desperate need of the lock to step up with several key forwards out through injury, suspension and Origin duty, Taumalolo had his best game of the year with 268 metres, 12 tackle breaks, five offloads, 25 tackles and a try.
Coach Paul Green always planned for Taumalolo to play the full game to spearhead the youngest pack the Cowboys have fielded for some time.
The strategy may be harder to execute when established back rowers Coen Hess and Gavin Cooper return from Queensland camp, but it has given them food for thought.
“It’s possible ( we will start Taumalolo on an edge again), it’s definitely possible,” Cowboys assistant coach Todd Payten said.
“We started Jase on an edge to try and get him longer minutes and he was phenomenal.
“Our thought process was to try and get him 80 and to do that, we’d have to give him a good stint on the edge to get him through.”
Payten said Taumalolo can’t be expected to play entire games in the middle.
“It’s very tiring, it’s very taxing and he plays more minutes in the middle than any other forward in the comp,” Payten said.
“We’re very mindful of his workload and how it can compound from week to week. We’re just lucky to have him.”
Taumalolo revealed how the club’s poor start to the season had him questioning his own ability.
The Sea Eagles’ upset was just their fourth win of the year, and they must back it up against struggling Parramatta in Darwin next Saturday.
“At the start there, after about three or four losses, you start to doubt yourself,” he said.
“You start questioning why you’re still playing. That was a bit of a rough period for myself.
“I’ve slowly got myself out of that slump for a bit … I’ve been trying not to doubt myself.
“We’ve had a fair bit of a rough patch this year. We’re desperate to try to get back into the eight.”
Taumalolo said his confidence was growing each week. He’s hopeful his attitude can have a domino effect on the rest of the playing group going forward.
“I’m just trying to find myself … not only to better myself, but to better everyone else around me too,” he said.
“If I can do that, it will help the next person and they can do the same for the next person beside them.
“As long as that culture is still happening and guys are still believing in each other, that’s all that matters.
“Surely we’ll find a way into the eight if we have that kind of attitude and culture.
“We’ve still got time but we can’t take any games for granted at the moment.
“It’s totally up to us.”