https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/taumalolo-braces-for-tevita-pangai-and-his-big-friends-in-round-one/news-story/652b809f2965a8fcbebccac2e7f20bcc JASON Taumalolo is ready for a clash of two mammoth forward packs. Contests between the Cowboys and Broncos are famed for being fiercely fought, often going down to the wire and complete with powerful hits from both sides. The Tongan lock knows this all too well after he came off second best against Tevita Pangai Junior when the two met at Suncorp Stadium last season. Taumalolo was injured in a tackle by his international teammate and was ruled out for several weeks as a result.
There is no bitterness from arguably the game’s best forward, who is instead looking to relish the opportunity to meet dynamic Pangai in the middle of Queensland Country Stadium. Whoever handles the other better, Taumalolo said, would go a long way to determining a victor when the final siren sounds. “I enjoy playing against Tevita, he’s always a tough competitor. But now he’s got other big friends around him – big Payne (Haas) and a few younger boys so he’s got a bit of back up,” he said. “We’ll both be trying to get our teams off to a good start by getting one over each other. “We both play similar styles of footy around the middle, just physical and trying to get over the top. Whoever’s defence can hold on I reckon will get away with the two points.” Fortunately, Taumalolo has his own “big friends” to take it to their Queensland rivals. While Josh McGuire will miss round one due to suspension, the likes of Jordan McLean, Francis Molo and John Asiata all present strong bodies capable of matching it with the Brisbane pack. With wet conditions also expected, the versatility of Mitch Dunn and Shane Wright off the pine could also be the perfect counter to the Broncos size. Taumalolo reserved praise for the 25-year-old Molo, who was a finalist for the Dally M Interchange player of the year in 2019. But such is the health of the Cowboys forward contingent this season, he said there were plenty of others capable of taking on their challenges from the southeast corner. “We’ve got Franky Molo who has been playing great footy, he’s a ball of muscle and pretty solid,” he said. “He held his own last year and he’s really gone to another level. I think for him now he knows he can push for a starting spot, it’s all up to him whether he wants it or not. “On the other hand you have experienced guys like Johnny (Asiata) who can fill in too. “That creates a bit of healthy competition and that can only be a good thing for the team.”
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June 2020
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