Todd Payten puts Cowboys superstar Jason Taumalolo on notice

“This is a long term decision about Jase’s health and my ambition to hold onto the job.”

Cowboys coach Todd Payten will not back down from his plans to utilise Jason Taumalolo, adamant his reduced minutes will ultimately be what is best for the star lock and the team.

The North Queensland co-captain was far from the damaging form which typically churns out 200 running metres a game, finishing the 24-0 loss to Penrith with just 55m from seven runs.

Payten has been outspoken about his desire to reduce the 27-year-old’s time on the field to ensure he remains fit for the remainder of his contract, while also encouraging him to make each play count — in both attack and defence.

It was off the ball where the new Cowboys mentor has demanded more effort to ease the pressure on his fellow forwards, and he did not miss when calling out his marquee enforcer.

For the Panthers last try, halfback Nathan Cleary was gifted plenty of time to put a perfectly placed kick to the air, with Liam Martin leaping above the pack and offloading for Isaah Yeo to score.

Jason Taumalolo of the Cowboys looks dejected after a try during the round one NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the North Queensland Cowboys at Panthers Stadium, on March 13, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

It was Taumalolo at marker who failed to turn the heat up on the New South Wales champion, and Payten held no punches in pointing it out.

Payten said it was not just on the Tongan wrecking ball — his teammates in the middle of the park needed to move better as well — however his standing within the squad sent a message and he needed to adhere to the high standards expected of them.

He said the lack of running metres was not a case of minutes, rather an inability of the side to maintain possession.

“I don’t care the type of flack I’m going to cop about that. I’ve said it several times, Jase is contracted here for seven years,” Payten said.

“If we cook him 65 to 75 minutes a game, in three to four years what value are we going to get out of him? This is a long term decision about Jase’s health and my ambition to hold onto the job.

“For anyone to stay on the park in the middle of the field like Jase does you’re going to cut corners somewhere, and it comes in your defensive movements – your retreat speed, your line speed.

“If we let Jase get away with that, the young forwards we have in our club think that’s the way you defend.

“It’s not a decision around Jase, it’s more a decision around the way we want to defend as a unit, particularly in the middle of the park.”

NRL; North Queensland Cowboys training at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. Coach Todd Payten talks to Ben Hampton. Picture: Alix Sweeney

The most encouraging signs for Payten was the defensive resilience his players showed, as the defending minor premiers hammered their goal line in the opening 40 minutes.

However the Cowboys were ultimately their own worst enemy with the ball, with 18 errors largely coming unforced and in their own territory.

When they did have the chance to target Penrith’s line, they either forfeited possession or came up with a lacklustre final play option which was easily defused.

More will now be demanded of halves pairing Michael Morgan and Jake Clifford to find cohesion, having not played a game together in 2020.

Payten said Scott Drinwkater would likely be given more responsibility with the boot, having lamented the Cowboys fifth play options as “an afterthought”.

Scott Drinkwater of the Cowboys looks dejected after a Panthers try. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

“As halves that’s one of your main responsibilities – getting your last plays right – and I thought it was a reaction to the play that was happening, rather than being smart and setting up for it; that’s what the good halves do,” he said.

“We’ve talked a good game all pre-season, we’ve shown some glimpses of it, but we’ve got bucket loads of work to do.”

Originally published as Todd Payten puts Cowboys superstar Jason Taumalolo on notice