Jason Taumalolo

Jason Taumalolo
Taumalolo at Cowboys training in 2015.
Personal information
Full name Vaai Taumalolo[1]
Born (1993-05-31) 31 May 1993
Auckland, New Zealand
Height 191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight 113 kg (17 st 11 lb)
Playing information
Position Lock, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2010– North Queensland 113 23 0 0 92
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013 Tonga 3 1 0 0 4
2014–16 New Zealand 9 0 0 0 0
2015 NRL All Stars 1 0 0 0 0
As of 27 September 2016
Source: [2]

Vaai "Jason" Taumalolo (born 31 May 1993) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the North Queensland Cowboys of the National Rugby League. A New Zealand and Tongan international representative, Taumalolo primarily plays at second-row and lock. He was a member of the Cowboys' 2015 NRL premiership and 2016 World Club Challenge winning sides and was the Dally M Medal winner in 2016.

Background

Born in Auckland, New Zealand to parents Tominika and Vaai,[3] Taumalolo is of Tongan descent. He grew up in Mangere and started playing rugby league at the age of 4 for the Papakura Sea Eagles and attended De La Salle College, Mangere East[4] along with older brother Warner. At age 14, he moved to Townsville after being scouted by the North Queensland Cowboys while playing for a New Zealand under 16's touring team. Taumalolo attended Kirwan State High School and played his junior football for the Kirwan Bears and Townsville Brothers. He earned a scholarship with the Cowboys and would go on to represent the Queensland under 18's and Australian schoolboys at the age of 16.[5]

Playing career

2010

Taumalolo debuted for the Cowboys NYC team in round 24 against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, becoming the youngest ever player to debut for the club, aged 17 years, 2 months and 21 days, when he came off the interchange bench in the Cowboys 22-20 loss at Dairy Farmers Stadium.[6] It was his only appearance for 2010. In October, Taumalolo played for the Junior Kiwis.[7]

2011

Taumalolo would make his second NRL appearance almost a year later in the 2011 season in round 24 against the South Sydney Rabbitohs when he came off the interchange bench in the Cowboys 26-24 loss at ANZ Stadium. Taumalolo later starred for the Cowboys in round 25 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, coming off the interchange bench for the 3rd time to score 2 crucial tries and making 2 line breaks and 125 metres.[8] At the end of the season, Taumalolo was awarded the Rugby League Player's Association's Toyota Cup Player of the Year award[9] and was named in the Toyota Cup Team of the Year in the second-row.[10] Taumalolo played in the Cowboys in the NYC grand final against the New Zealand Warriors, scoring a try in the golden point 31-30 loss.[11] He played in 3 matches and scored 2 tries for the Cowboys in 2011. In October 2011, Taumalolo again played for the Junior Kiwis.[12]

2012

On 17 February, Taumalolo re-signed with the Cowboys until the end of the 2015 season.[13] In March 2012, Taumalolo was reported to have declared his allegiance to Queensland and Australia,[14] though on 7 April 2012, New Zealand Rugby League's high performance manager Tony Kemp confirmed that Taumalolo had pledged allegiance to his country of birth, New Zealand.[15][16] Taumalolo was named as a reserve in the New Zealand squad for the 2012 ANZAC Test against Australia, but was not selected to play.[17]

Taumalolo finished the 2012 NRL season with him playing in 17 matches and scoring 5 tries. In October, Taumalolo was again selected for the Junior Kiwis.[18] He was described as the "next Sonny Bill Williams".[14]

2013

On 20 April 2013, Taumalolo made his international debut for Tonga in the 2013 Pacific Rugby League International against Samoa at Centerbet Stadium.[19] Taumalolo was a standout in the Intrust Super Cup in the 2013 season, playing for Cowboys feeder club, the Mackay Cutters. Taumalolo went on to win the competition along with his Cutters team mates and dedicated their win to recently deceased team mate Alex Elisala. He would later go on to star for the club at the backend of the season including the club's semi-final loss to Cronulla. Taumalolo played 14 matches and scored 2 tries for the Cowboys in 2013. In October, he represented Tonga in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, playing in 2 matches and scoring a try in their match against the Cook Islands at Leigh Sports Village.[20]

2014

In February 2014, Taumalolo was selected in the Cowboys tournament winning inaugural 2014 Auckland Nines squad.[21] 2014 was a stand out season for Taumalolo with him playing 25 matches and scoring 6 tries as the Cowboys finished 5th. Taumalolo made 241 hitups and gained 2889 metres. On 7 October, Taumalolo was selected in the Kiwis final 24 man squad for the 2014 Four Nations series.[22] He made his test debut for New Zealand against Australia at lock in the Kiwis 30-12 win at Suncorp Stadium.[23] Taumalolo played at lock in the Kiwis 22-18 Four Nations final win over Australia at Westpac Stadium.[24] Jason capped off 2014 winning Tonga International Player of the Year Award.

2015

On 27 January, Taumalolo was named in the North Queensland Cowboys 2015 NRL Auckland Nines squad.[25] On 13 February 2015, Taumalolo was selected at lock for the NRL All Stars in the 2015 Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars match at Cbus Super Stadium.[26] On 27 February 2015, Taumalolo extended his contract with the Cowboys to the end of the 2017 season, rejecting a $2 million contract offer from the New Zealand Warriors.[27] On 28 September 2015, Taumalolo was named at lock in the Dally M Team of the Year.[28] On 4 October 2015, in the Cowboys Queensland derby 2015 NRL Grand Final match against the Brisbane Broncos, Taumalolo started at lock in the Cowboys historic golden point 17-16 win.[29][30] He finished the Cowboys premiership winning 2015 NRL season with him playing in 26 matches and scoring 2 tries. Taumalolo was selected in the 23-man New Zealand Test squad for the Baskerville Shield series but later withdrew due to injury.[31]

2016

On 2 February 2016, Taumalolo was named in the Cowboys 2016 Auckland Nines squad.[32] On 21 February 2016, Taumalolo was a member of the Cowboys' World Club Challenge winning side, starting at lock in the side's 38-4 victory over the Leeds Rhinos at Headingley Stadium. On 6 May 2016, Taumalolo played for the New Zealand Kiwis against Australia, starting at lock in the 18-0 loss at Hunter Stadium.[33] In Round 14, Taumalolo played his 100th NRL game.[34]

On 13 September, Taumalolo was named the RLPA Player of the Year by his fellow players.

On 28 September, Taumalolo was named as the joint winner of the Dally M Medal with the Melbourne Storm's Cooper Cronk, in addition to being named Lock of the Year for the second consecutive season.[35]

After the Four Nations final against Australia, Taumalolo and Valentine Holmes were flown to the United States to take part in drills as part of scouting for NFL teams.

Achievements and accolades

Individual

Dally M Medal: 2016
RLPA Player of the Year: 2016
Rugby League Week Player of the Year: 2016
Dally M Lock of the Year: 2015, 2016
North Queensland Cowboys Player of the Year: 2016
North Queensland Cowboys Players' Player of the Year: 2016
North Queensland Cowboys Rookie of the Year: 2012
North Queensland Cowboys NYC Player of the Year: 2010, 2011
NYC Team of the Year: 2011
RLPA NYC Player of the Year: 2011

Team

2016 World Club Challenge: North Queensland Cowboys – Winners
2015 NRL Grand Final: North Queensland Cowboys – Winners
2014 Auckland Nines: North Queensland Cowboys – Winners

Statistics

NRL

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2016 season[2]
† Denotes seasons in which Taumalolo won an NRL Premiership
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2010 North Queensland 1 0 0 — 0 0
2011 North Queensland 3 2 0 — 0 8
2012 North Queensland 17 5 0 — 0 20
2013 North Queensland 14 2 0 — 0 8
2014 North Queensland 25 6 0 — 0 24
2015† North Queensland 26 2 0 — 0 8
2016 North Queensland 27 6 0 — 0 24
Career totals 113 23 0 — 0 92

International

Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2013 Tonga 3 1 0 — 0 4
2014 New Zealand 4 0 0 — 0 0
2016 New Zealand 1 0 0 — 0 0
Career totals 8 1 0 — 0 4

References

  1. ↑ Mascord, Steve (3 February 2015). "THE JOY OF SIX: 2015 NRL Nines". stevemascord.com.
  2. 1 2 "Jason Taumalolo". Rugby League Project.
  3. ↑ Butterworth, Liam (30 September 2015). "North Queensland Cowboys lock Jason Taumalolo grateful to parents who moved from Auckland to Townsville when he was 14". Townsville Bulletin. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  4. ↑ Rattue, Chris (19 September 2016). "10 things you need to know about..... Jason Taumalolo". NZ Herald. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  5. ↑ Peut, Natalie (10 August 2009). "Jason has giant future". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012.
  6. ↑ http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/bulldogs-beat-north-queensland-cowboys-22-20-at-dairy-farmers-stadium/story-e6frep5x-1225908265428
  7. ↑ "Junior Kiwis train-on squad named". Stuff.co.nz. 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2016-09-20.
  8. ↑ "North Queensland Cowboys leave it late to beat Cronulla Sharks at Dairy Farmers Stadium". Fox Sports. 27 August 2011.
  9. ↑ "Taumalolo takes out RLPA NYC player award". cowboys.com.au. 14 September 2011. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012.
  10. ↑ "Toyota Cup Team of the Year". NRL.com. 30 August 2011.
  11. ↑ Nicolussi, Christian (2 October 2011). "New Zealand Warriors trump the North Queensland Cowboys after an extra-time field goal from halfback Jordan Meads". Daily Telegraph.
  12. ↑ "League: Junior Kiwis dominated by NYC grand finalists". NZ Herald. 6 October 2011.
  13. ↑ Read, Brent (17 February 2012). "Outstanding teenager Jason Taumalolo rejects offer from Parramatta". The Australian.
  14. 1 2 Badel, Peter; Garry, Chris (27 March 2012). "Mal Meninga gets Origin boost as Cowboys young gun Jason Taumalolo chooses Maroons over New Zealand". Courier Mail.
  15. ↑ Dean, Steve (7 April 2012). "League: Young prodigy vows loyalty to NZ". NZ Herald. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  16. ↑ Garry, Chris (10 April 2012). "Why Cowboys young gun Jason Taumalolo chose Kiwis over Maroons". Herald Sun. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  17. ↑ "Cowboys star Jason Taumalolo named in New Zealand squad to face Australia". The Australian. 15 April 2012.
  18. ↑ "Junior Kiwis Squad announced". SportsTG. 2 October 2012.
  19. ↑ Barclay, Chris (14 April 2013). "Jason Taumalolo chosen to play for Tonga". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  20. ↑ Laybourn, Ian (6 November 2013). "Tonga 22 Cook Islands 16: USA claim top spot after Tongans edge thriller". Daily Mail.
  21. ↑ Luca, Rocco (14 February 2014). "Squads For Auckland Nines". Rugby League Week.
  22. ↑ "Four rookies in Kiwis Four Nations squad". NRL.com. 7 October 2014.
  23. ↑ Carayannis, Michael (26 October 2014). "New Zealand hand Australia's young guns a reality check in Four Nations". Sydney Morning Herald.
  24. ↑ Ritchie, Dean (15 November 2014). "Four Nations 2014: New Zealand champions after defeating Australia 22-18 in Wellington". Daily Telegraph.
  25. ↑ Luca, Rocco (27 January 2015). "Cowboys unveil 2015 Nines squad". Rugby League Week.
  26. ↑ Balym, Todd (13 February 2015). "The Indigenous All Stars have beaten the NRL Stars 20-6 at CBus Stadium". Daily Telegraph.
  27. ↑ http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/jason-taumalolo-rejects-multimillion-dollar-offer-from-the-warriors-to-remain-at-cowboys/news-story/53b24f8a5904a71363a0767eebb5a7ce
  28. ↑ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/dally-m-2015-every-award-winner-including-team-of-the-year/story-fni3fbgz-1227548507525
  29. ↑ Chammas, Michael (5 October 2015). "NRL Grand Final 2015: North Queensland Cowboys outgun Brisbane Broncos to win premiership". Sydney Morning Herald.
  30. ↑ "NRL Grand Final Player Ratings". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  31. ↑ "North Queensland Cowboys star Jason Taumalolo ruled out of tour, replaced by Manaia Cherrington". Brisbane Times. 10 October 2015.
  32. ↑ Luca, Rocco (2 February 2016). "Cowboys name strong Nines squad". Rugby League Week.
  33. ↑ Elsom, Dan (7 May 2016). "Live coverage of the ANZAC Test between Australia and New Zealand at Hunter Stadium, Newcastle". news.com.au.
  34. ↑ http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/cowboys/cowboys-jason-taumalolo-set-for-his-100th-nrl-game/news-story/9d63c182b90e089868bb508483d4fdf8
  35. ↑ http://www.nrl.com/cronk-and-taumalolo-win-dally-m-medal/tabid/10874/newsid/101801/default.aspx

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/24/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.