Jason Taumalolo will become the most capped player in the 31-year history of the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys when he takes the field to face the Parramatta Eels at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Friday night.
The 32-year-old equaled former teammate Johnathan Thurston’s club record 294th appearance in the win over the Bulldogs in Round 9.
On Friday night he will pass Thurston and stand alone.
The record-breaking night comes almost 16 years after his NRL debut in Round 24 of the 2010 season.
Over the following 17 seasons, Taumalolo has compiled a resume few middle forwards in the history of the game can match.
Along with his 294 Cowboys appearances, including the 2015 grand final victory, he has played 18 Tests for Tonga and 10 for New Zealand. He claimed the Dally M Medal in 2016, becoming the first lock to win the award since Ray Price in 1982. He is also a three-time Dally M Lock of the Year and a six-time Paul Bowman Medalist for Cowboys player of the year.
In the only change to the starting side, Jeremiah Nanai has been ruled out with a shoulder injury. Sam McIntyre will start in the second row.
Friday’s game kicks off at 8pm.
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Cowboys team to play Eels:
3. Jaxon Purdue
4. Tom Chester
5. Zac Laybutt
7. Tom Dearden (c)
8. Coen Hess
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Jason Taumalolo
11. Heilum Luki
12. Sam McIntyre
13. Reuben Cotter (c)
Interchange
14. Soni Luke
15. Griffin Neame
16. Tom Mikaele
17. Matt Lodge
18. Xavier Kerrisk
19. Mason Barber
20. Kai O’Donnell
21. Kaiden Lahrs
22. Robert Derby
