Whenever the fortunes of North Queensland are dissected, the conversation inevitably turns to Jason Taumalolo.
The Cowboys gave the keys to the castle back in 2017 when they signed him to a ten-year contract – and when you’re dealing with figures of that magnitude, performances are always going to be under the microscope.
Despite the Cowboys success as a team taking a nosedive since making that year’s grand final, Taumalolo continued to play at an exceptionally high level up until an injury-disrupted 2021.
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“He had a chequered year last year, had a few injuries – a hand injury that kept him out. There was a lot of talk in the media about how many minutes he was playing, I think the Cowboys are going better now and he did seem to have a lot more energy in his football in round two,” Maroons coach Billy Slater said on Wide World of Sports show Billy’s Breakdown,
The 28-year-old was excellent in North Queensland’s win over Canberra, but took a moment to highlight how the external pressure on his own performances was weighing in his mind.
“Last week was all about obviously blowing out the cobwebs and trying to get the motor going and tonight I felt a lot better,” he said.
“And obviously with the outside noise it was a bit of a ‘poke the bear’ moment for me.”
Slater added that if he was going to play like that every week, he should scour news headlines like a hawk.
“You might have to the poke the bear a few times each week, he obviously reads the newspapers,” Slater said.
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There’s been plenty of suggestions on how Todd Payten should use his star wrecking ball, how many minutes he should play, and what numbered jersey should be on his back – but the reality is much more simple.
If everyone around him plays well, the microscope comes off the team’s star man, and everybody wins.
“The people around Jason need to just focus on their role,” Slater said.
“The more everyone does their role, Jason, he’ll find that space, he’ll create those quick play-the-balls and give the team what is needed.
“When the focus is not on Jason Taumalolo, look out. Because Tom Dearden’s playing great, Chad Townsend, you’ve got the Hammer at the back that’s looking really dangerous and they’re a serious outfit.”
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