Monday Buzz: Paul Gallen v Jason Taumalolo the heavyweight bout of the NRL season
IT is the heavyweight bout of the NRL season, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD. The game’s most frightening ball-runner v the toughest warhorse in the comp.
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IT is the heavyweight championship bout of the rugby league season.
In one corner the game’s most feared and frightening ball-runner, Jason Taumalolo. You’d rather meet a Hells Angel or Comanchero bikie in a back alley than have to tackle him.
On the opposite side is the most brutal and toughest old warhorse in the competition, Paul Gallen.
An absolute mean machine. Loved in the shire, loathed outside of it.
This contest will be worth the ticket price alone whether you’re in the cheap seats or category one.
Few players over the years have trampled over Gallen in big games.
Yet Taumalolo’s performance against the Broncos on Friday night was the most explosive and dominant from any forward I’ve seen in a final for years.
That he won man-of-the-match ahead of the mercurial Johnathan Thurston probably best explains just how outstanding the performance was.
It was truly a 9.5 or maybe even a 10. He was simply unstoppable in 75 minutes and made more than 250 metres.
Incredibly he was going as hard in extra time as he was in the opening minutes.
Ironically when he was off contract last year, Taumalolo considered joining the Sharks.
He had a day in the shire and lunch with Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan.
He wanted to learn from Gallen, the player he says he admires more than anyone else in the NRL.
“Gal is probably one player that I’ve looked up to that’s from outside the Cowboys and I still look up to him now,” he said.
“Just his competitiveness and how tough a player he is. He has all my respect and just to share the field with him is an honour and a privilege in itself.”
We’re sure he won’t be as kind and complimentary when the Cowboys run on to Allianz Stadium on Friday night looking to take one more step on the road to defending their premiership. Not a chance.
The only thing similar about Gallen’s and Taumalolo’s games is that they both average more than 160 metres per game this season.
Taumalolo is far more dangerous with the ball in his hands. He’s made 76 tackle busts this year, more than double what Gallen has done.
Gallen’s attacking strength is in his offloads and hard metres. There are few better in the game.
This year he has made 31 offloads to Taumalolo’s nine. And in eight less games.
The Blues’ State of Origin skipper also averages 12 more minutes per game. Taumalolo is nine kilos heavier. Gallen has played 165 more career games. But he is 35 with a battered old body while his opponent, at 23, is just reaching his peak.
Gallen is renowned for loving a chat in the media on the eve of big games.
We’ve all seen and heard his press conferences and jibes at Queensland at State of Origin eve press conferences. Not this week.
When your columnist asked him on Saturday about facing Taumalolo with his crook back, he was reluctant to comment other than: “I respect him like every opponent in every game.”
Coach Flanagan would rather no-one else have the responsibility of taming the Cowboys wrecking ball.
“Gal sees and knows what the challenge is,” Flanagan said. “He’ll be preparing for it. Throughout his career he’s always stood up in the big games against great players. This one will be no different.”
PAUL GALLEN v JASON TAUMALOLO: BY THE NUMBERS
Originally published as Monday Buzz: Paul Gallen v Jason Taumalolo the heavyweight bout of the NRL season
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