Cowboys forward Jason Taumalolo scores top points from fans

THE ‘JT’ who usually wins all the plaudits from Cowboys NRL fans is a certain halfback who kicks goals and wears distinctive headgear.

THE ‘JT’ who usually wins all the plaudits from Cowboys NRL fans is a certain halfback who kicks goals and wears distinctive headgear.

But in the round 21 win over the Titans in Townsville, it was the other “JT” _ forward Jason Taumololo _ and not Johnathan Thurston whe scored top marks from respondents to The Courier-Mail’s Fan Favourites survey.

Tonga World Cup representative Taumalolo tormented the Titans defence down the left side, consistently making big metres and breaking the line several times.

Fans rated Taumalolo’s performance a nine-out-of-10 and the statistics backed up that rating because Taumalolo made eight tackle busts in his 17 runs for 169 metres gained against the Titans. That took him to 55 tackle busts for 2014, making him one of the most damaging ball-runners in the game.

Test prop Matt Scott, playing his first game since breaking a cheekbone in State of Origin II, also caught the eye in round 21 with an incredible 194 metres from 26 runs and four tackle busts.

He also scored a nine from fans while Thurston was marginally behind them on eight.

There was no rating for departing coach John Cartwright but it was clear fans weren’t happy with the Titans.

Only four players _ centre Dave Taylor and forwards Nate Myles, Mark Minichiello and Paul Carter _ scored sevens and Myles might have been for his “Thor” humour.

Broncos fans were savage on their players after the tame loss to ladder-topping Manly last Friday night.

The only player given more than seven was interchange forward Ben Hannant who was rated an eight by 33 per cent of respondents.

Rate the Broncos, Cowboys and Titans again this week at couriermail.com.au.

Originally published as Cowboys forward Jason Taumalolo scores top points from fans