NRL record books await in-form Taumalolo
Sep 26, 2017 - 5:33 PM According to North Queensland coach Paul Green, Jason Taumalolo isn't having his best NRL season.But it seems someone has forgotten to tell the Cowboys wrecking ball.
The barnstorming Kiwi international needs just 54m in Sunday's NRL grand final against Melbourne to become the first forward in the competition's history to crack 5000m for a season.
Only ex-Sydney Roosters speedster Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (5795m in 2015) has broken the 5000m barrier in the NRL's previous 19 seasons.
Taumalolo shared the Dally M Medal last year with Cooper Cronk but his numbers have been staggering this year.
He is averaging 198m a match from his 25 games to date.
Last year Taumalolo made 4486m at 166m a game.
But asked if Taumalolo was having his best season yet, Green baulked before pointing to Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith's overwhelming Dally M Medal favouritism.
"He won the Dally M last year but we were talking about Cam Smith winning the Dally M this year so maybe not," he said.
Then Green uttered the words rivals no doubt feared - 24-year-old Taumalolo is only going to get better.
"What we are seeing is his development as a player," Green said.
"He is still pretty young and I still think he has plenty of improvement left in him.
"But he has been tremendous for us. He is one of the guys who have taken ownership and leadership."
Master of understatement Taumalolo believed he was in "good form heading into a grand final".
"For the moment I am happy with where I am at - I can be better in some areas, just effort areas," he said.
"But apart from that I am pretty happy with how I am going."
Taumalolo said he no choice but to find another gear in 2017 with co-captain and Test prop Matt Scott sidelined since round two.
"I have more accountability on myself this year especially with Matt Scott not in the middle taking charge," he said.
"I think Scott Bolton and I have taken it on ourselves to guide the boys around the park and helping out the young boys coming off the bench, showing a bit of leadership to them."
Source: AAP
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