NRL great Scott Sattler has declared that if the North Queensland Cowboys are to win the 2024 premiership, their front row needs to improve quickly.
The Cowboys’ front row currently consists of club servants Jason Taumalolo and Jordan McLean, who have both played over 200 NRL games and bring a wealth of experience.
However, both players are now into the twilights of their careers, and Taumalolo, the former Dally M winner, has had his minutes managed all season following a diagnosis of degenerative cartilage in his knee.
Sattler has deemed that if the Cowboys are to potentially hoist the Provan-Summons trophy at season’s end, Taumalolo and McLean need to step up.
“If you’re going to win a comp, you gotta have a front rower that’s dominating week in week out and I don’t think they’ve got that at the moment,” Sattler said on Breakfast with Pat and Heals.
“That’s what Taumalolo’s there for. Jordan McLean’s been a great player over the years, but the leg speed of the game is starting to get away from those sorts of players… the younger players are just getting a couple steps ahead.
“They need something from Taumalolo, they need something from their front row to start dominating the front row.”
Sattler also said he wasn’t surprised by the Cowboys’ loss to the Parramatta Eels, applauding under fire half Dylan Brown’s performance.
“I actually thought the Eels would win that… they’re a different side at home and even though the Cowboys are winning… they haven’t been playing their best,” Sattler said.
“Dylan Brown without Mitch Moses is actually starting to find his identity in the side and he’s actually starting to own the side.
“We’ve been wanting to see that for three to four years so with injury it opens up the opportunity for someone else to flourish and that’s what’s happened for Dylan Brown.”
The Eels and Brown will look to continue their winning form in Darwin against the Dolphins, while the Cowboys strive to bounce back against the top-of-the-ladder Sharks.