Milestone Cowboy fights beyond pain
JASON Taumalolo admits the agony in his hand has never left, and is a burden he plays with even still.
But ahead of his 200th NRL game he is steadfast that sometimes playing beyond his pain threshold is necessary as he seeks to return the Cowboys to finals football.
Equipped with a wrist strap to protect his wounded mitts, the 27-year-old lock will join a hallowed group of North Queensland stars to reach the double-century milestone for the club this weekend.
Never had Taumalolo expected he would get to this point, revered as not just one
of the NRL’S most formidable players but a historic figure in Cowboys folklore.
A pair of hand fractures sustained in this season has delayed the major career moment, however he has fasttracked his return in a bid to lead his side back to title contention.
While the skipper said the injuries still plagued him to this day, it was a price he was willing to pay to help resurrect North Queensland’s fortunes.
“I’ve still got a long way to go, I need to start off by getting healthy first,” Taumalolo said.
“Hopefully these hands can recover, get better over the next few weeks and get
used to the pain. The sooner I do that the sooner I can have more confidence in the way I play.
“I feel it pretty much every time, there’s no adrenaline there and I can’t really hide it.
“When you’re out there I’m just doing my best and I guess you have to put your body on the line sometimes.”
In typical Taumalolo fashion, he has played as though unencumbered by the concerns.
Against the Broncos he was at his trademark inspiration best, running for 226m and scoring a crucial try which sent Queensland Country Bank Stadium into raptures.
While there is still pain
there, Taumalolo said he never felt rushed to make his comeback ahead of time.
In his absence the Cowboys went on a three-game winning run, and he saw the likes of Scott Drinkwater mature in a short space of time to become a genuine leader on the field.
For that reason, Taumalolo said there was no need for him to force himself back into the fray.
While in campaigns past the club had struggled to win while he was on the sidelines, their recent streak of four wins from five games came with a sense that the once natural order had been overturned.
“I think the boys were doing well even when I wasn’t there, for myself I know I can add a bit to the team but in terms of leadership and the way the boys have been playing while I was injured they did really well,” Taumalolo said.
“It’s safe to say there’s a few leaders out there when I’m not there – Drinky has really stood up, and especially Macca (Jordan Mclean).
“I’m just happy to try get us back to playing good footy and hopefully be there September when finals footy is around.
“I won’t think too far ahead, but right here and now it’s stringing a few consistent performances together as a team.”