Todd Payten: Jason Taumalolo set for injury return in Townsville this weekend

North Queensland’s Tongan tearaway Jason Taumalolo is set to hit the field this weekend in Townsville as he makes his return from a brutal Lisfranc injury. Read the latest injury update.

Jason Taumalolo of Tonga charges forward during the men's 2024 Rugby League Pacific Championship match between New Zealand Kiwis and Tonga XIII at Go Media Stadium on November 02, 2024 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

North Queensland’s Tongan tearaway Jason Taumalolo is preparing to terrorise the Townsville Blackhawks when he makes his playing return from a Lisfranc injury this weekend.

Taumalolo will line up for the Cutters alongside Cowboys middle forward Tom Mikaele when Mackay faces arch rivals Townsville in the Queensland Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten said his former captain requested one more week to get up to NRL standard, with Taumalolo expected to line up against the Broncos in round 3.

“Talking to him, he felt he needed another week to be NRL ready,” Payten said.

“He had the option whether we play or train tomorrow, and he wants to play. So he’s going to play Q Cup.

“I think it shows great awareness and honesty from him. He’ll be ready to go for us next week.”

Jason Taumalolo of the Cowboys in action during the round 15 NRL match between Canberra Raiders and North Queensland Cowboys at GIO Stadium, on June 14, 2024, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Payten indicated Taumalolo would play two long stints, likely coming into the starting side for Cowboys rising talent Jeremiah Mata’utia.

Cowboys players Semi Valemei, Mutua Brown and Xavier Kerrisk will also play for Mackay while 2015 NRL premiership-winner James Tamou has been named for the Blackhawks.

Payten said Taumalolo had shown good improvement at training over the last fortnight.

“I thought he was a fair way off the pace in his first couple of sessions, but his last two, he’s been thereabouts,” Payten said.

“But from a personal point of view and a mental point of view from him, he felt he was another week away. The demands of NRL nowadays are getting faster and faster and harder and harder.

“I don’t want to set him up to fail, and he needs to be best prepared between the ears and physically, and that’s where we’re at. So I think it’s a smart decision from him.”

The Blackhawks host the Cutters on Sunday afternoon at Jack Manski Oval, kick-off is at 4.30pm.

‘PUNCHING OURSELVES IN THE FACE’: WHY THE COWBOYS ARE THEIR OWN WORST ENEMY

Cowboys coach Todd Payten has demanded a big response from his players on Saturday when North Queensland hosts one of the NRL’s toughest teams.

Todd Payten, Head Coach of the Cowboys speaks to media during the 2025 NRL Pre-Season Challenge match between Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys at Casey Fields on February 23, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

The Cronulla Sharks were defeated 28-22 by four-time reigning premiers Penrith in a round 1 thriller for the ages in Las Vegas.

Now fresh off a 13-day turnaround, the Sharks are circling a wounded Cowboys side and they smell blood in the water.

Payten used every fighting analogy in his arsenal to explain the brutal 42-12 battering Manly dealt his side last week.

“We were licking our wounds, I guess, for the first couple of days,” Payten said.

“The punch in the guts wasn’t dismissed and we’ve assessed it, we’ve moved on, we’re playing a good team here at home and we’re excited to get out and play.

“When you get punched in the face, you’ve got to know how to respond.

“Last week, we got punched in the face a couple of times and then lost the contact, and then after 10 or 15 minutes, we kept punching ourselves in the face.

“Tackle-five penalties, poor poise when we had some opportunities in attack with tackle one, tackle two turnovers. We did everything that we didn’t want to do.”

A week is a long time in rugby league and the Cowboys have the team on paper to turn things around with hot and humid conditions expected in Townsville on Saturday afternoon.

North Queensland junior Kai O’Donnell has been named to make his Cowboys debut in the second row with Maroons star Jeremiah Nanai relegated to Queensland Cup.

North Queensland Cowboys forward Kai O'Donnell during pre-season training. Picture: Alix Sweeney / North Queensland Cowboys.

Payten said while it was a good opportunity for the 26-year-old while Nanai works on his defence.

“Tough kid, runs a good line, competes hard, and he’s really hard to tackle,” Payten said of O’Donnell.

“He’s come here with a look in his eye since day one of pre-season. He’s always wanted to play for our club, and he’s getting an opportunity tomorrow, so I’m really excited for him.

“He’s worked for it, and he deserves to be there.”

Payten said Nanai was disappointed but understanding when he got the news, revealing he would persist with the Samoan backrower’s shift to the left edge when he returns to the NRL.

“I’ve been pretty clear with him about what I want to see from him this weekend to get his way back into the team,” Payten said.

“He’s got an opportunity to go and do that on the weekend.

“He’s playing on the right this weekend, with some players around him from our club. If he comes back into our side he’ll come back on the left.”

The Cowboys play Manly on Saturday afternoon, kick-off is at 4.30pm AEST.

Originally published as Todd Payten: Jason Taumalolo set for injury return in Townsville this weekend