‘Money doesn’t bother me’: Why Jason Taumalolo backs Jeremiah Nanai to follow his lead

The Cowboys enforcer and co-captain turns 30 this year and has been one of the team’s best players since signing a record-breaking $9 million 10-year deal in 2017.

Despite becoming one of the NRL’s highest paid forwards at the time, Taumalolo said he has never been weighed down by the expectations associated with his contract and backed the same to be true for his 20-year-old back-row partner.

“Money doesn’t really bother me as much or put me under pressure compared to how other people feel,” Taumalolo said.

“I think a lot of it has to do with personality. I turn up to training and I like to have a laugh, but then when it’s time to train I always flip that switch and always want to be better.

“With Miah (Nanai) and a lot of these guys signing long-term deals, I think that they’re in safe hands and I doubt any of them will get complacent.

“We’ve got a good coaching staff and a good group of guys around that keep players in check too, so they’re pretty level-headed guys and I like to assume that they’ll kick on and get better over the years to come.”

Nanai is now tied to the Cowboys until the end of the 2027 season, making him the longest-signed player alongside Taumalolo and Scott Drinkwater.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten said he hoped Nanai would be able to follow the blueprint created by his fearsome leader.

“Jason has been in the top three forwards now for six or seven years, and Miah is just starting his career,” Payten said.

“Both have got a great friendship and when they’re fit and firing we’re a better team.

“Jase has become an out-and-out leader for us both with what he does on the park and away from the park, and Jeremiah is still, in a lot of ways, learning his craft, so it’s exciting what lies ahead for him.”

With 27 caps to his name already, Taumalolo tipped Nanai to claim the record for most games played at the Cowboys by the time he retires – though with the former’s 236 games and no plans to leave the club anytime soon, that record could certainly belong to Taumalolo himself.

Nanai made such an impact on the team in a breakout season last year Taumalolo assumed he had played closer to 50 games than 30.

“I reckon the record for most games for the club will definitely be under pressure,” Taumalolo said.

“It’s good for the club and it’s good for Miah – he just has to make sure to always keep working and always be better.”

The Tongan star will be 34 when his contract runs out and he quashed any suggestion he would sign for another team.

“I don’t see myself leaving at all. I’m happy here, I enjoy being in Townsville and North Queensland,” Taumalolo said.

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“I enjoy taking the field every time playing for the Cowboys so I don’t see myself playing in any other NRL team.

“We’ve got a good young core group of guys that are staying long-term so I think the club’s in safe hands.”

Taumalolo has been given the green light to pursue a professional boxing debut at the end of this year.

Originally published as ‘Money doesn’t bother me’: Why Jason Taumalolo backs Jeremiah Nanai to follow his lead