Shark eater Taumalolo draws on Cowboys’ super 2017 run
North Queensland veteran Jason Taumalolo has been Cronulla’s nemesis in finals and is hoping the Cowboys can prove pundits wrong like they did in 2017 during their run to the grand final.
That all starts with the semi-final clash with the Sharks at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
The 31-year-old prop has eaten sharks for breakfast in the Cowboys’ three previous finals wins over Cronulla.
In 2015, the same year the Cowboys won their maiden title, he ran for 186m and was given a rest after 44 minutes of carnage in a 39-0 elimination final win.
In 2017 the wrecking ball powered through 259m, made eight tackle breaks and a line break in a 15-14 elimination final victory.
In 2022 it was another trademark big-game display in the 32-30 golden point qualifying final victory when Taumalolo scored a barnstorming try in the final minute of regular time in a powerhouse display where he ran for 270m and made eight tackle breaks.
In the 2017 season the Cowboys won three finals in a row in Sydney to make the grand final. To win the title this year they will need to beat Cronulla, Penrith and possibly Melbourne in the NSW capital to win the title.
“In 2017 we scraped into the eight and went on that winning run when everyone counted us out,” Taumalolo told AAP.
“The first week of finals we played Cronulla and no-one gave us a shot but we went down there, played for each other and won.
“The following week people were saying we’d had our good finals game against Cronulla but the Eels were going to beat us … and we won that game (24-16) too.
“Then we beat the Roosters (29-16) to reach the grand final against Melbourne. When no-one gives you a shot you have nothing to lose and play the sort of football you expect to play and shock everyone.”
To win a second title as a senior leader in the team would be special for the Tongan international.
“It is always something that I want to do. You want to be playing finals football and part of the big games at the end of the season,” he said.
“Hopefully we go down to Sydney and play some good footy against a tough Cronulla side.
“It would mean a lot (to win a second premiership) but we are only in week two of the finals and we haven’t achieved anything as a team yet.
“Of course it would be great to get to next week and then October and play in those big games but primarily we are focused on what is ahead of us on Friday night.”
Before the 2015 grand final Taumalolo was wide awake all night thinking about the big day ahead. The ceiling fan was whizzing around as the rising star pondered what was ahead of him. It all turned out well for the sleepless giant.
“Yes, that was then, but I am sleeping a lot better now,” he grinned.
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