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.
Freddo
Guest
I don't think you know what a waist is Steve lol
The Barry
Roar Guru
You can't find any examples except for the one I've pointed out and that you've conceded? There were a few late hits. Just because burgess got him legally a couple of times doesn't mean they all were. I'm a neutral so no axe to grind here. You're obviously a souths fan...
Justhetip
Guest
The penalty count is a very misleading stat. 3 Cowboys penalties were right at the start of their sets. The breather the Rabbitohs side got before defending is exactly what the cows were trying to avoid. The timing of penalties tells a truer story.
Bulldog
Guest
Once again you are not reading my posts correctly. My comment was that they were less fit and not unfit. Anyway it is just my opinion which is different to your opinion. I guess that is what this site is all about. Only time will tell...
Steve
Guest
That's not how I remember it. He was taken around the waist by Burgess on a few occasions. Please post the link where they attacked his legs while kicking. Excluding the Luke shoulder charge (which I admit was late), he was tackled just as he kicked the ball (legally) on almost every occaision....i.e not late. I couldn't find any example of souths players diving for his legs as you seem to be claiming. Probably because it didn't happen.
The Barry
Roar Guru
He was continually hit late. I just saw the highlights again this morning. Late and getting his legs taken out from under him. Isaac Luke has been cited for a ridiculously late shoulder charge on Thurstin so I'm not sure what you were watching.
The Barry
Roar Guru
He got pizzled by Campion...
Steve
Guest
Fair enough. But how are the Rabbits pack not fit? I don't think Maguire has players in 1st grade that aren't.. If anything it was the cowboys pack that was struggling. The reason the Cows lost had nothing to do with penalties.....Souths simply shut Thurston down, and did it within the rules. Just like the Sharkies did the week before.
Bulldog
Guest
I did not mention the penalty count. My point was that all the penalties in the match (18 in all) meant there was a lot of stoppages in the game (particularly second half) and that sort of stop start game favoured the rabbits.
Steve
Guest
Ummm...the Cows won the penalty count 10-8. Get you facts right.
Bulldog
Guest
Not giving up on Cows just yet. They were on a short turnaround from a tough game at Shark park on Saturday and then back to Tville for a Thursday game. All the penalties favoured the big less fit Rabbits pack. There was a really slow restart by the Rabbits when they were caught in goal which hints they were feeling the pinch. A faster game with less stoppages will kill the rabbits in the finals.
Muzz
Guest
Granville is freaking out. I suspect he'll choke come finals.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Completely correct, past history indicates to me that the Cowboys forwards have the capacity to ramp up though.
Justthetip
Guest
The Cowboys probably have the slightly easier run home of the top 4 sides and if they finish 3rd play either the roosters in Sydney or Broncs in Brisbane. Beating the Roosters in Sydney could mean we would face them their again a month later. The Broncs in brissy make things slightly easier.
Justthetip
Guest
You're spot on mate. Ashton Sims did a number on burgess in Sydney a few weeks out from the finals.
Justthetip
Guest
Thanks mate. Hannant has honestly been solid but he can be even better and I hope green can get it out of him. You're spot on about Bolton I should have mentioned him. He's got fire but it usually takes someone beside him to rev up first before he feeds off it. Tamou needs to take ownership of the packs mongrel and Hannant needs to continue it once he's in. I'm not sold on Tamololo being a superstar because he defaults to finesse for a stretch of games. They have the toughest job doing the hard yards but when Tamololo gets that bit of arrogance when he charges the ball up he makes the defences life uncomfortable. Gould, sterling etc compare him to SBW but while they have some similar characteristics they are different style players. Sonny's a brilliant hole runner which is more like Gavin Cooper. Tamololo is very light on his feet for a big man but his round frame doesn't change direction as fluently. His footworks great when he's in space but facing a set line the opposition are most uncomfortable when he's just charging flat out at any half gaps. Tamou really lifted from round 5 on. He lead from the front and looked to be taking responsibility as the leader. This brings the best out in him and his team mates. A prop doing it a whole season is unheard but he's had a quiet period the true champions don't stay quiet for too long. I've been a critic of his for a long time but I think he's maturing and if he can get back to wear he was ill be happy to eat my words. Greens an excellent coach and I'm sure Tamou's aware he's the lynchpin, a strong finish this season will make him a player who can't be left out of any side and not one that's picked in potential and physical attributes.
Grand Armee
Guest
Alex, you are 100% right, but that is with the benefit of hindsight. We could have had an off two weeks, or we could be in a form slump. We shall find out in coming week which one it is...
Justthetip
Guest
Webcke was hard as nails and only within the rules. He wasn't known for off the ball nonsense, just hard tackles and hit ups. Matt Scott has that good bloke whose a true hard man. Tallis added the loose cannon aggression that complemented Webcke's style. Tamou, Tamololo, Hannant and also Bolton need to be the ones to be intimidating and not let any opposition get one over any team mate.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
I don't think people realise how difficult it is for the forwards to go out there and dominate week in week out in a 26 week season. Souths had a few games last year when they didn't get themselves up for the contest -- but when the finals came around they were able to get up and perform.
Grand Armee
Guest
I agree with the the majority of this article, and it was a pleasure to read it. However, I have been happy with Hannant's performances this season. He took about a month or so to find his way into this team, but once he did, he has been a valuable contributer and stood up for us during origin. He often gets injected into the game when we are losing and has come on and rescued some momentum. I would love it if he could take it a step further again. Agree with the points on Tamou. I wonder whether he has just lost a bit of form, or is still finding his match fitness after a two week suspension after origin 3...??? The motivation to play rep footy as well as rumours about his future next year led to his best form. I just wish he was more motivated for the club. No mention of Scott Bolton, but since he came back from injury, he hasn't had the same impact (besides maybe one or two games). We need him to find some form because at times in the year when he and the other three props (plus Taumalolo) were all making metres, we were impossible to beat.