Dally M Awards: Jason Taumalolo misses out on team of the year

JASON Taumalolo has the ultimate motivation to fire in Sunday’s grand final after the Cowboys wrecking ball was sensationally snubbed at the Dally M Awards.

Jason Taumalolo with partner Liana Lariva at the Dally M Awards. (Matt King/Getty Images)

JASON Taumalolo has the ultimate motivation to fire in Sunday’s grand final against Melbourne after the Cowboys wrecking ball was last night sensationally snubbed at the Dally M Awards.

In one of the most controversial decisions in the award’s 37-year history, Taumalolo was overlooked for team-of-the-year honours, losing out to the man Queenslanders love to hate — Paul Gallen.

Statistics provided by Fox Sports Lab show Taumalolo outperformed Gallen in several key categories this season, but the Sharks warhorse was named the Dally M lock of the year.

 

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A joint winner of the Dally M Medal last year, Taumalolo has stepped up again in 2017, with the Kiwi hulk needing just 54 metres in the grand final to become the first forward in history to amass 5000 running metres in a season.

But despite his record-breaking statistical output this season, Taumalolo walked away empty-handed last night as Gallen celebrated alongside the NRL’s best positional players.

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Jason Taumalolo with partner Liana Lariva at the Dally M Awards. (Matt King/Getty Images)

One of the code’s best locks of the past 20 years, former Penrith premiership-winning No. 13 Scott Sattler, blasted the decision to omit Taumalolo in favour of Gallen.

“Quite frankly, it’s laughable,” said former Queensland Origin lock Sattler.

“I can’t believe Jason Taumalolo has been overlooked for the team of the year. Jason isn’t just the best lock in the NRL — he is the best forward in the world.

“He sits alongside Cam Smith as the best player in the world at the moment.

“I can’t see how Taumalolo could have been overlooked in favour of Gallen, it’s simply dumbfounding.

“I’m shocked. Gallen has had a decent year and you could never question his toughness, but he hasn’t been as dominant this season as he has in years gone by.

“Don’t get me wrong, Gallen is still a good player, but to say he is playing better than Taumalolo this season, that’s beyond belief.”

Under Dally M rules, players who finish in the top 10 automatically qualify for the team of the year.

Gallen edged out Taumalolo on that basis, polling 22 points to 19. The Cowboys forward didn’t help his cause with a two-match suspension that saw him deducted six points, robbing Taumalolo of a top-two finish.

He was also affected by the late-season surge of his Cowboys teammate Michael Morgan, who stole valuable Dally M points in the run home, ultimately finishing second in polling.

Statistically, Taumalolo just shaded Gallen this season. He made more line breaks (nine to four), more average metres (198 to 173) and amassed three times as many tackle busts (120 to 45), but the Sharks skipper was more prolific in offloads (52 to 30) and average tackles (30 to 26).

Gallen’s triumph will annoy Queensland fans but Taumalolo remains satisfied with his season, saying he had grown as a leader in the past 12 months.

“I’m really happy with where I’m at,” he said.

“I have more accountability on myself this year, especially with Matt Scott not in the middle taking charge.