North Queensland Cowboys star Jason Taumalolo will mark his 300th NRL game this weekend, joining an elite list of the code's 55 legends who have reached the triple century. What makes it even more special is that the Tongan wrecking ball will celebrate it in front of his friends and family in Townsville when the Penrith Panthers come to visit on Saturday.
Taumalolo joins Johnathan Thurston as Cowboys greats who will reach the milestone, and will run out as a one-club legend with his beloved Cowboys.
Let's have a look back at ten of Taumalolo's greatest moments that shaped his career.
1. Lone Ranger - overcoming injury and surpassing the greatest capped Cowboy
Taumalolo being at the top of the game for so long meant it was a physical battle to keep his body in the best shape, and as his career went on, he began to suffer injuries. The biggest issue was his knees giving way. Chronic degeneration had developed in his knee since 2023, requiring surgery, and as a result, he undergoes a strict load management program to keep him playing as many minutes as he can.
Other injuries include MCL tears, while in the year 2021, he sustained three hand fractures during the season in a freak run of luck. Despite all of this, Taumalolo still managed to overtake his long-term Cowboys teammate Thurston as the most capped Cowboy ever.
In May, he surpassed Thurston's 294 appearances in the Cowboys colours to take the record outright, made even more special in front of friends and family in Townsville. The record was held for eight years, with Taumalolo adding to his impressive career by notching up game 300 this Saturday night.
