Woolf heaped reward on Taumalolo and his toughness and the way he by some means performed greater than 50 minutes with the damaged foot.
“They don’t come a lot harder than Jason, and he’s performed plenty of occasions now with accidents that different males wouldn’t play with,” Woolf stated.
“I’ve by no means seen a bloke play with accidents like Jason does. I don’t understand how he received by means of the work he did if he was in a lot ache and discomfort. What it exhibits you is how a lot taking part in for Tonga means to him. Jason is among the hardest gamers I’ve labored with.”
Taumalolo and Woolf have performed pivotal roles in remodeling Tonga into a world league powerhouse. Tongans made up a lot of the crowd at a sold-out CommBank Stadium for the ultimate on November 10.
For the Cowboys, dropping Taumalolo for any period of time is a big blow, particularly given the shape he was in on the finish of final season, and with the expertise he brings to a group now lacking Chad Townsend, Kyle Feldt, Jake Granville and now Luki.
Including insult to harm was the timing. Golf equipment can obtain as much as $350,000 in salary-cap aid if a participant misses a minimum of 12 weeks by means of an harm suffered whereas on consultant obligation. As a result of Taumalolo, a $900,000-a year-marquee participant, can be sidelined by means of the summer season, and solely miss a handful of video games, the Cowboys will obtain no compensation.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten confirmed Taumalolo suffered the harm in opposition to the Kiwis, and was naturally disenchanted he could be lacking his forwards chief the primary few rounds, which incorporates Manly away, Cronulla at residence, then the blockbuster Broncos’ Queensland derby at Suncorp Stadium in spherical three.
“I don’t know if his harm was dealt with effectively, in any respect. It was solely recognized after the Championships, and as soon as he had been in Townsville for over every week – to solely discover out then was actually disappointing,” Payten stated on Friday.
“Jase knew he was sore, and I nonetheless don’t understand how he performed the best way he did with that harm. He wasn’t even strapped up. His toughness is unbelievable.
“It’s a disgrace as a result of Jase has labored actually onerous to get his physique proper, I assumed the again finish of final season was actually robust, and his kind within the Pacific Championships was nice.
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“To lose somebody like him together with his affect for us, it’s actually disappointing. It’s necessary he will get himself proper post-Christmas. He received’t be out for an prolonged interval, however he’ll miss a minimum of the primary few video games of the season.”
In the meantime, Payten stated new recruit John Bateman might play within the again row or center, and his expertise could be much more essential with Luki sidelined.
Bateman nonetheless had two years to run on his deal on the Wests Tigers, with the Sydney membership to nonetheless bankroll a wholesome portion of his Townsville transfer.
“What he does is carry competitors for spots,” Payten stated.
“And I simply love the best way he performs his footy. He’s abrasive, aggressive, and thru my conversations with him, the over-riding feeling I’ve received is that he needs to win – and he’ll virtually do something to get win. He’ll be an excellent match for our group.”
