TAUMINATOR
RISE OF THE MACHINE: STAR’S MIRACULOUS RECOVERY
WHEN Jason Taumalolo told fans “I’ll be back” they weren’t expecting such a superhuman return.
The Cowboys wrecking ball, who was once described by the Bulletin ( right) as the “Tauminator” for outmatching Arnold Schwarzenegger in size and strength, has been named in Paul Green’s 21-man squad for this weekend, weeks earlier than expected.
The 117kg, 190cm Tongan international was expected to miss between six and 10 weeks of action due to a grade three knee injury in Round 2 against the Broncos.
The setback came after Taumalolo recorded a barnstorming 301-metre running record, a personal best, in the opening game against the Dragons – one of only two wins for the Cowboys so far this season.
COWBOYS superstar Jason Taumalolo could be in line for a miraculous NRL comeback after he was named in the 21-man squad to take on Canterbury-bankstown Bulldogs.
Taumalolo, who was sidelined with a grade three medial ligament injury back in Round 2, was at first expected to miss between six and 10 weeks of action.
But after proving his fitness during recent training runs, including doing contact work with teammates, Taumalolo has been thrown a lifeline to make a shock return after he was named in the extended reserves.
Cowboys coach Paul Green was not getting overly excited, and suggested he needed more time to decide on whether the former Dally M Medallist would take the field on Friday night.
“I would probably like a couple more days to get a better look at it: to know clearer about whether he would be all right to play,” Green said.
“The rules are I have to name the squad today. So for him to be considered at all, I have to name him in the 21. I probably don’t expect him to play.
“He is not far off. He has done everything I have asked of him so far. It is a fair bit earlier than initially expected so I am still being a bit cautious.
“You don’t want to take any risks there.
“I think he knows what he has to be able to do to get his job done. He has played enough footy now.”
Taumalolo will add a lot of strike power to the Cowboys as they search for more points in their clashes.
The side has worked hard on its defence in recent weeks and managed to grind out a tough victory against the Warriors at the weekend, but will be searching for more flair in attack.
The hard-running Tongan international was a man possessed in the Cowboys opening round win over St George-illawarra Dragons, running for an incredible 301m including six tackle busts.
Taumalolo would not be the first player to return from a Grade 3 medial ligament injury inside five weeks after Sam Burgess did so back in 2012.
Burgess, who was supposed to spend six to eight weeks on the sidelines, turned to the revolutionary method of platelet-rich plasma injections to get back on the field in five. It is uncertain if Taumalolo turned to a similarly forward thinking rehabilitation process.
While Green was impressed with the spirit that his side displayed in Auckland, the coach said there was still room for improvement ahead of a showdown with the last-placed Bulldogs.
“I think the effort has been there for a few weeks and we just didn’t get our reward until the weekend,” he said.
“It is important we maintain what we have had to do and still look for a bit of improvement.
“We need to hang on to the stuff that’s got us to what we got on the weekend. But we can’t just take our foot off the gas and think we’re there now.
“We need to maintain that consistency in our preparation and how we get ready for games.”
Taumalolo has been joined on the extended bench by a recalled Tom Opacic in what is the only other change to the squad that downed the Warriors.