Change of coach behind transformation of North Queensland Cowboys forward Jason Taumalolo

IN one of the greatest displays from a 20-year-old in the NRL, Jason Taumalolo racked up 207m in his first 80-minute effort.

Jason Taumalolo. Picture: Zak Simmonds

IN one of the greatest performances from a 20-year-old in the NRL, Jason Taumalolo racked up 207m in his first 80-minute effort.

That equates to more than 2.5m per minute on field. Add two line-breaks, five tackle busts and 22 tackles without a miss and the reason he was tagged as the next Sonny Bill Williams when he was 17 is obvious.

Johnathan Thurston said the Cowboys’ new coaching regime led by Paul Green is behind the transformation of the baby-faced giant into an 80-minute wrecking-ball.

Green’s mission this season is to turn Taumalolo into a consistent performer throughout an entire game.

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His goal was achieved on Saturday night in the Cowboys’ thrilling victory over the Canberra Raiders.

Green however will not be satisfied until Taumalolo backs it up week after week.

“I keep saying, everyone needs to remember that he’s only 20. He played well tonight and he can play better still,” he said.

Asked if it was the 112kg athlete’s best game, Thurston replied, “Definitely”.

“The coaching staff deserve a lot of credit for the way they have turned him into the player that he showed tonight and for where they got his head space at and you are seeing what he can do,” Thurston said.

“That is a massive step for him. I hope he continues that over the coming weeks.

“There have been a lot of questions about him over the past few years. He’s only 20 and there is a lot of football ahead of him.”

News_Image_File: Jason Taumalolo of the Cowboys.

Taumalolo now lines up opposite Broncos workhorse Alex Glenn, when the Cowboys travel to Brisbane for Friday night’s derby.

Glenn was also impressive in attack in Brisbane’s win over Canterbury, topping his team’s metre count with more than 150.

Taumalolo has run for more metres than any other player so far this round. He would have scored two tries if not for freak tackles by Anthony Milford and Josh Papalii.

In one amazing burst, Taumalolo brushed away from two defenders, surged 40m, palmed off a cover defender before Milford somehow brought him down three metres out from the tryline.

In four seasons Taumalolo played only 35 NRL games as he drifted in and out of the Cowboys side.

Cowboys’ fullback Michael Morgan said his friend had matured immensely this off-season.

“He’s just grown up a lot to be honest,” Morgan said.

“He was always really talented. He's going to keep getting better and better.”

Taumalolo will do well to match the feats of NSW captain, Paul Gallen. At one stage in 2012, Gallen made 200m or more in six consecutive games.