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.
5. 2017 Grand Final run
Somehow, the Tongan star simply went up a gear the following season, securely establishing himself with a handful of others as the NRL's best forwards of all time. His 2017 legacy started during the home and away season, amassing over 5000 run metres, with an average of 205 metres per game.
The Cowboys finished in eighth place, and he simply carried the side on his back to defy odds and make a charge to the Grand Final. The Townsville-based club had an injury crisis heading into the final series and was without co-captains Matt Scott and Thurston for their run, leaving it up to Taumalolo and Morgan to roll up their sleeves.
One of the biggest finals upsets, the Cowboys beat the highly favoured Sydney Roosters in the preliminary to charge through. Taumalolo averaged 252 running metres in the lead-up to the three finals games before the Grand Final:
- Week 1 vs. Cronulla Sharks: 71 minutes, 259 metres.
- Week 2 vs. Parramatta Eels: 58 minutes, 242 metres.
- Week 3 vs. Sydney Roosters: 64 minutes, 256 metres.
The squad during the Grand Final was pushed to its limits through a massive injury toll. Shaun Fensom fractured his tibia and fibula in the third minute of the decider, resulting in a massive stoppage of play. John Asiata played the final series with a broken hand, requiring surgery
2015 hero Kyle Feldt injured his groin in the preliminary but managed to play through. Te Maire Martin suffered an MCL injury, and Scott Bolton played with a complicated fractured sternum injury throughout the season. Despite going down to the Storm, the Cowboys did all of their fans up north proud of their effort.
