Fired up North Queensland coach Todd Payten said his team were lucky not to be flogged 50-0 by Penrith in a honest post-match rant.
And the new Cowboys mentor defended his decision to reduce Jason Taumalolo’s minutes this season, confirming it’s his long-term strategy to preserve his body for the next seven seasons.
Two 25-minute stints resulted in Taumalolo’s low haul of 55 metres from seven runs on Saturday night, a far cry from last year’s average of 192 metres and 60 minutes a game.
Speaking after their 24-0 lashing, Payten said the former Dally M winner is not intense enough in defence and needs to set a better example to the young forwards in the side.
“He got 55 because we didn’t hold the ball,” Payten said.”
“That’s got nothing to do with his minutes.”
“I don’t care the type of flak I’m going to cop about that.”
“But I’ve said it several times. Jase is contracted here for seven years. If we cook him, 65-75 minutes a game, in three to four years, what value are we going to get out of him?”
“This is a long-term decision about Jase’s health and my ambition to hold onto the job, I guess.”
The extraordinary honesty is the most criticism Taumalolo has copped publicly as one of the biggest names in the NRL.
However, Payten did not lay down the loss at the feet of his co-captain considering he was benched for 30 minutes of it.
The Cowboys’ ball control was deplorable with 18 errors for the game, including basic fundamentals that went wrong.
Ex-Queensland second-rower Coen Hess played 80 minutes for just six runs, 38 metres and two errors, while Jake Clifford and Kyle Feldt also had three errors each.
“It was a bit of concentration, a bit of fatigue. We tackled ourselves to a standstill and, in my opinion, we’re lucky it wasn’t 50-0,” Payten said.
“We’ve got bucketloads of work to do.”
“It was pretty positive at halftime. To give away that sort of possession and field position and only be down 8-0 was a real positive and the players felt that.”
“It was important that we started well in the second half but that wasn’t the case. They rolled down the field pretty easily.”
“We just weren’t good enough. We’re a long way off.”
no one in particular
Roar Guru
He didn't do much in attack last night either.
Rob
Guest
I think Cotter’s selection as a small forward is questionable only because of the lack of ball control and field position. Murray struggled against the Storm and a lot of that was due to the Rabbits handing over the ball he was killing himself dragging down bigger opponents. Maybe Robson will build into a 60min plus hooker but certainly at this point of the season 50min tops.
Rellum
Roar Guru
The game of the 2010s played into that, not needing to offload or do anything other than wrestle and take hit up when reasonably fresh compared to this year.
Rob
Guest
I’ve suggested before Taumalolo has never really needed to play smart. He’s been blessed with size, speed and strength that any footballer would envy. Unfortunately he hugs and cuddles and never drives low with a shoulder. His smarts about hitting a hole or looking for the ground when required is non existent. Offloading when he should and when he shouldn’t are questionable at best. Papalli or Thaiday looks like Einstein in comparison.
Rob
Guest
I think he offers some outside back cover with an injury. He was impressive in the Indigenous and trail games coming off the bench bumping, spinning and off loading through the middle. He carries the football with enthusiasm. Unfortunately he misses going high on players with footwork like Hess especially when fatigued. The combination of Hess, Masters and Drinkwater is horrendous together. I’d prefer ASI or Taugali in that centre spot if O’Neil is no longer seen as a starter. Do you ever notice how many line breaks and tries are conceded either side of McGuire?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Yeah injuries will happen, Origin will come and go and form will come and go. I am not saying the Panthers are a lock on the premiership , but with even luck they are top 4 bound and I think they will be better for last year's finals run . Enjoy the ride.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Jimmmy, it was just game one of the season. Plenty of good and bad can happen over the next 6 months. With an even share of lady luck, I think the Panthers are a chance again in 2021. And I'm sure your Cows will be a lot better than last night. The Cows defence was outstanding last night, but in the end their handling cruelled any chances they might have had, and it allowed the Panthers to play with little pressure on them throughout the match.
Rob
Guest
If Cotter gets the inside ball from Morgan instead of McGuire they score under the sticks. The selection of Cotter at lock didn’t work because they never had enough ball to tire the Panthers pack out at any stage. The line speed of the Panthers was fantastic? Look it’s a common theme with officials being influenced by home crowds but seriously Chechen is easily influenced. The Panthers lost the ball on a couple of occasions and were rewarded with a penalty? When those things happen it’s very helpful. Hess dropped a ball getting up as a player fell over him kneeing the ball out accidentally. Robson accidentally made contact with the ball when a player was pushing forward as held was called and the ball was placed almost on his foot. Two very similar indiscretions but two entirely different results. The Api drop was in the corruption definition category. Cowboys got penalised for a tip tackle. There was 2 significantly worse done by the Panthers without a penalty. The penalty count was 7-3 the error count was very similar. Many of the Cowboys errors were fatigue related coming of their line. Panthers were attempting to finish a play at the goal line.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
You guys were way too good as expected Albo. I thought we scrambled pretty well in the first half but as you say , your errors were associated with try scoring and ours were coming out of our own end. It made it too easy for you. Still I expect another Panthers v Storm GF ( just with a different result). Haven't changed my mind after round one.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I am on board with all that except Marsters on the bench. Nine tackles, six missed tackles, two ineffective tackles. He's on the park bench for mine.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! The Cows made 18 errors , but the Panthers also made 17 errors. The difference was that most of the Panthers errors were around attacking the Cows line and bombing tries. It is not an unfamiliar issue for the Panthers in recent times. Whilst they remain relaxed, they need to learn to be more clinical.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! JT13 had a very ordinary season in 2020 by his standards, and last night he did very little when he was supposed to be one of their main leaders. Payten needed to give him a rocket , disguised as “looking after his long term interests” ! He needs to lift his performance or he will soon be called Buddy II. And I can’t believe I left out James Fisher-Harris to keep JT13 in my Supercoach team ?
Rob
Guest
To state the obvious the Cowboys were slow out of the blocks. This has been an issue for years? They were never in the game due to poor completions. It takes time for combinations to gel and Clifford and Morgan don’t mix well. Who’s kicking, who’s running, who’s steering the ship? Is it worth persisting with? Clifford’s best performances have been when Morgan isn’t around? Clifford and Drinkwater actually complement each other’s game and attacks wise have looked impressive in games IMO. I have always thought Morgan was a Rep centre and and absolute gun player running down the edges getting early ball. Val Holmes might be a good winger but his ability to trail through the middle and swoop around behind the backline hitting a hole or creating an extra man is extremely good. Masters is a strong ball carrier but is suited to coming of the bench against tiring defence around the ruck. I don’t know what Granville brings off the bench with both Cotter and Robson already there? McClean and McGuire are very slow perhaps Hola, Condon or Grieg need to be taking one of their spots. At the end of the day the Panthers came out with a point to prove, the Cowboys tried hard but when they realised they weren’t going to win they were basically thinking about getting back on the bus home. It’s only round one and I can see them playing way better than that.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi Don Aprile. I think a consistent half combination across most the comps team, bar a couple has been missing for years, not just with the cowboys. I’m not sure why
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Its funny . Everyone knows we have a problem with our halves and a problem with our centres . Moving Morgs to replace Marsters is a win , win. Morgs would be a great centre and he can actually tackle. Payten is brave enough to reduce JT13s playing time. Hes brave enough to play Val on the wing. He needs to be brave enough to play Morgs in the centres.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
His passing isn't ISP grade. It just shatters our momentum . Look at Mahony for Parramatta. what a sweet passer he is. It just changes everything. Funny thing is Cotter is pretty good. Go figure.
Don Aprile
Roar Rookie
What frustrates me the most about the Cowboys is they still can't get a 'consistent' half combination going and Imo I don't that will happen while Morgan is in one off those positions. Yes he may have played well when he and JT were the halves but with no JT calling the shots and directing play and now Morgan having to do it all ...it ain't working . Imo Morgan is not busy enough and not consistent enough 'for the whole game' ....he goes missing too often. With Clifford leaving the club next year I think the Cowboys need and should be making an all out top priority atempt to sign up Tom Dearness to the club as early as possible as their long term halfback. Now would be the time to strike as he is coming off contract and at present second choice halfback at the Broncos. Being a local product, playing his early football in Mackay, I don't think he would take much convincing. For what it's worth if Dearness was available I would move Morgan out to the centre and play Dearness and Drinkwater in the halves...Imo both of them are busy, consistent players who are always both willing to take the line on ....hopefully they would inject a bit of life into the backline.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Dang, I sho would hate to be coached by Ming the Merciless too. I just googled it, and it's definitely him.
Retro Rabbit
Roar Rookie
Agreed. You can't expect to get paid a million dollars a season to only play on one side of possession.
Rellum
Roar Guru
JT13 needs to be better in defence so Todd is on the money there.