- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
James Tamou, Ben Hannant and Jason Taumalolo have stopped playing aggressive and dominant footy. The Cowboys’ other forwards are hard work toilers and hole runners but these three are expected to intimidate. The Cowboys need this balance in the forwards.
Tamou in particular needs to forget stats and get angry. If he doesn’t the Cowboys should let him go.
During the second half of the Cowboys’ loss to South Sydney, the Rabbitohs produced the anger and weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. I was disappointed the Cowboys let Ashton Sims go last year because he’s got mongrel in spades.
Tamou plays alongside Matt Scott who is a no nonsense hard man but not the aggressor and intimidator. He’s similar to Shane Webcke. Webcke had the hot headed Gorden Tallis to compliment him and the Cowboys lack this balance.
Tamou can be a top line enforcer when he feels like it. His form earlier in the year was sensational but he was the worst player in the three losses to start the season. If he doesn’t lead and protect his side the Cowboys stand no chance. If he does it’ll take a hell of a side to stop North Queensland.
The Cowboys were poor and mentally weak on Thursday night and Souths deserved their win, with the three forwards I mentioned not alone in misfiring. Scott knocked on when it was time for the great players to decide the outcome. Michael Morgan kicked out on the full from their own 40-metre line.
Johnathan Thurston hasn’t been grubbing for repeat sets and the organising of set ending plays, on opposition try lines he needs to include a repeat set option and not only have the Cowboys run the ball from one metre out.
The constant stoppages favoured the Rabbitohs as the Cowboys were unable to keep them moving and wear them down. The Cowboys lacked mental strength and deserved to lose. However, I don’t agree the Rabbitohs are now back and the Cowboys are gone.
I thought Issac Luke showed classic clever hooker play with his flat passes. I’m going to watch the game again to ensure I was using both eyes but I saw a half dozen forward passes from dummy half. The great ones know just how far they can push it and he’s going to be a massive loss for the Bunnies.
I love watching Luke play. In my opinion he has been their most important player for years ahead of even Sam Burgess. With the Cowboys lacking an aggressive hooker like him it rests heavier on Tamou’s shoulders to be the aggressive leader.
Taumalolo has talent in spades but needs to prove he’s a true enforcer and tough enough to back Tamou in dominating and intimidating opposition packs. Dave Taylor also had the skill set but he lacked the killer instinct needed.
Tamou and Taumalolo have their destiny and legacy in their own hands. Will they be remembered among the top tough men of the game? Will Ben Hannant, who’s at the back end of his career, show he’s still got what it takes to mix it with the best?
These three have at times all proven they can. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Let’s see what you’re made of boys.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.