Johnathan Thurston, Jason Taumalolo and James Tamou make a mighty powerful triumvirate that has the growing army of Cowboys fans confident their team can win back-to-back premierships for the first time since the Broncos achieved the feat in 1997 and 1998.
But Thurston is the key.
The 33-year-old is not only the greatest rugby league player on the planet, he’s the inspiration, the visionary, and the tactical genius for the Cowboys, holding more individual records than most teams can boast.
The list is awesome – three Golden Boot awards as the world’s best, four Dally Ms, most career points for the Kangaroos (334), most career goals for the Kangaroos (143), the most consecutive Origin games (36), the most career Origin points (212), and most career Origin goals (96).
Plus a mountain of other recognitions reserved for the very best. He has four Kangaroo World Cup man of the match awards in four games, five Origin man of the match awards, four Dally M halfback of the year awards and three at five-eighth, the Norm Provan Medal, Clive Churchill Medal, Alan Clarkson Trophy, Graham Murray Medal, Wally Lewis Medal, Ron McAuliffe Medal, Preston Campbell Medal, and the Ken Stephen Medal.
Despite all his gongs, Thurston is the ultimate team player – which automatically rubs off on the other JTs.
Taumalolo is a 23-year-old wrecking ball with a 196-centimetre, 113-kilogram frame, boasting strainer post legs that drive like Usain Bolt, leaving a carnage of would-be defenders in his wake.
Hooker Michael Ennis has more aggression than the average Shark, and he was asked what it was like tackling Taumalolo head-on.
“Not pleasant,” was his classic reply.
The double whammy of Thurston’s guile and Taumalolo’s power spells trouble for the Sharks at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
And while they will be closely watched, the 196-centimetre, 114-kilograms Tamou is likely to be running amok – and he’s genuinely quick.
Expect Taumalolo and Tamou to rack up at least 100 metres each on Friday night, especially if they are running off their inspiration.
Meanwhile, the other co-skipper, Matt Scott, and Jake Granville up front, with Michael Morgan, Justin O’Neill, and Lachlan Coote out the back will be busy all game.
The Sharks won’t be backward in coming forward, with Ennis setting up the plays for the likes of Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis, Wade Graham, and Andrew Fifita, with danger men out the back in Ben Barba, Jack Bird, and James Maloney.
This promises to be one helluva game, but when Johnathan Thurston’s lurking, the Cowboys are mighty hard to beat.
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