JASON Taumalolo admits his confidence took a battering during his roller-coaster years in Townsville.

The 110kg forward hit the NRL like a tsunami in 2010 when, at 17, he became the youngest first-grade player in Cowboys history.

Taumalolo was ordained as a future star in the mould of Sonny Bill Williams, but in four seasons he has played only 35 NRL games as he drifted in and out of the Cowboys side.

The reasons for Taumalolo’s inconsistency are murky and varied.

Some suggest he clashed with former coach Neil Henry, others claim he lacks the maturity and discipline to succeed in the NRL.

News_Rich_Media: North Queensland has taken out the inaugural Auckland Nines, beating state rivals Brisbane 16-7 in the final.

Taumalolo simply says he buckled under the weight of expectation and any identifiable flaw in his game only further eroded his self-belief.

Going into his fifth season in the NRL, Taumalolo is primed to terrorise the opposition.

Given his early rise, it is easy to forget he is still only 20 and, after a sizzling pre-season which included a starring role in the Cowboys’ Nines triumph last Sunday, the Kiwi giant believes he is equipped to become a consistent force.

“This is the year I want to deliver,” he said.

“Everyone expected a lot of me and I didn’t deal with that. I am still young, but I have matured a bit and I’ve now got a couple of years under my belt.

News_Image_File: Jason Taumalolo will take great confidence out of the Auckland Nines.

“In the pre-season, I’ve definitely been focusing on trying to deliver what everyone has been expecting of me. The likes of Jimmy (Tamou), Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott won’t be around forever so I have to pick up my game if we are any chance of winning an NRL premiership any time soon.

“Hopefully this year I make a statement and I get off to the best start I can.’’

Taumalolo’s motivation to succeed is etched into his front teeth. They are embedded with gold, one tooth carrying a melted portion of his mum’s wedding band, the other his dad’s ring. It is an act of cultural significance that pays homage to Taumalolo’s Tongan heritage.

“It’s something special, having my parents’ wedding rings as a part of me, and that’s why I wear a mouthguard to try to protect them,” he said.

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Taumalolo refuses to criticise former Cowboys coach Henry, who believed the forward had defensive problems that needed to be remedied for him to warrant regular NRL selection, but it is clear he has struck a strong rapport with new coach Paul Green.

“With Henry, it was either deliver or you are not in the team, but I feel like Greeny has more confidence in my game,’’ he said..

“Greeny isn’t into me too much about what I need to do right or wrong, he works hard on my strengths and he says he just wants me to play how I want to play.

“We’ve done a bit of work on my defence, so hopefully that transfers into the regular season.’’

Green said Taumalolo was a victim of being exposed to the NRL spotlight in his teens.

“Too often in our game, people put undue pressure on our kids,’’ Green said.

“They all expect them to be the Next Big Thing and when they don’t live up to it, everyone wants to criticise them because they aren’t living up to the hype.

“Jason is going to be a wonderful player but he is still developing.

“Jason’s biggest challenge, without getting too deep, is his defence. We all know how great he can be in attack but defensively you have to work hard in the NRL.

“He’s turning 21 this year so we put more expectation on him because of his potential. ”