BEST MATES TAKE OUT AWARDS
THE hardest ball-runner in the NRL was forced to hide his tears as he said goodbye to his best friend.
In a year in which the Cowboys season marked the changing of the guard in many respects, Taumalolo (pictured) proved some things never change.
The North Queensland lock established himself in the club’s history books by being awarded his fifth consecutive Paul Bowman Medal. But it was a bittersweet night for the Cowboys best player, as the club farewelled premiership-winning forward John Asiata at the presentation night.
The pair have become inseparable over their years together at the club, with Asiata referring to the Tongan enforcer as his “brother from another mother”.
While the pair traded onstage barbs through the night, most notably around their penchant for video games, there was no hiding from the bond they shared as Asiata was the first backstage to celebrate Taumalolo’s historic medal win.
Taumalolo proved he was in the top echelon of NRL forwards once again in 2020, carrying the ball for an average 208m every game – more than 40m beyond nearest rival, Penrith’s James Fisher-Harris.
Humbled and thankful for the recognition, the accolade pales in comparison with what Taumalolo has been able to witness from the club’s young brigade.
While results failed to go the Cowboys’ way for much of 2020, rising stars in the likes of Tom Gilbert and Hamiso Tabuai-fidow proved they belong in the NRL, and have the means to take the team back into title contention. Tabuai-fidow’s efforts were recognised with the Rookie of the Year mantle, while Gilbert turned up the heat on the Tongan forward, notching six points in the Paul Bowman Medal tally.
“We saw a couple of younger players there score some points, so if we can get more of them that would be the better option and hopefully the team will be better for it,” Taumalolo said.
“(Gilbert is) definitely going to be a future leader of this club. The way he carries himself at training and professionally as an athlete, not many can do at his young age.”
In the absence of Michael Morgan and Jordan Mclean, Taumalolo’s influence on the group was recognised by being named captain. It was a role he was proud to have.
“To be mentioned with some of the greatest players who ever played for the Cowboys and getting that ‘C’ next to your name, it doesn’t really hit you until you run out there,” Taumalolo said.
Earlier in the night, Asiata was named club person of the year for the second time since joining the Cowboys in 2014. The utility forward refused to take credit.
“It is special, it is a very special award. It has nothing to do with footy. It is about having love and respect for others,” he said. “I feel that is something my parents have taught me. This is more their award than it is mine.” The departing Asiata said it had been a tough decision to leave the Cowboys but he was instead reflecting on what he had achieved with the North Queensland side.