Kenty’s Man of the Moment – Jason Taumalolo – Cowboys

Jason Taumalolo has lit up this finals series. The unlikely Cowboys were not even supposed to be playing in this year’s play-offs but snuck in through the back door when St George Illawarra went down to Canterbury in the last round, enabling the Cowboys to finish an unlikely eighth.

Nobody could have predicted what would happen next.

Taumalolo has gone on a tear that has surged the Cowboys into premiership contention.

He ran for 234m against Cronulla in the first week of the finals but the figure that truly staggered his NRL rivals were a rarely quoted statistic for post-contact metres. Essentially, this measures how far Taumalolo dragged opposition defenders after crashing into their defensive line, with most yardage players believing anywhere around 40-50m is a solid effort in the NRL.

Taumalolo dragged the Sharks another 108m.

He put on a similar performance last week against Parramatta, taking up the Eels’ challenge to take on their pack.

He finished on top, of course.

Now Sydney Roosters hardman Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has challenged Taumalolo to run at him ahead of Saturday’s preliminary final at Allianz Stadium.

Taumalolo smiled and said sure.

by Paul Kent

Image: NRL Imagery