JOHNATHAN Thurston has appealed for Jason Taumalolo to stay loyal to North Queensland as Cowboys officials warned they would not enter a bidding war for the Kiwi Test star.

The battle for Taumalolo intensified yesterday when Warriors officials arrived in Townsville for talks on a $2 million package to make the 21-year-old the highest-paid forward in the code.

Well-placed sources told The Courier-Mail Taumalolo was agonising over the decision. He would sacrifice about $1 million if he opted to remain in Townsville.

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Taumalolo has told coach Paul Green his preference is to remain at the Cowboys but the gigantic Warriors deal shapes as an offer that is almost too good to refuse.

If anyone can empathise with the choice confronting Taumalolo, it is Thurston. The Maroons champion fielded a massive $5 million offer from the Panthers two years ago but took less to remain at the Cowboys in his quest to deliver the club’s maiden premiership.

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Now, with the “other JT’’ weighing up one of the most lucrative deals for a forward in NRL history, Thurston hopes Taumalolo sees merit in being a Cowboy for life.

“He is in a rare position but with that (sort of) money comes expectation,” he said.

“He is developing and we’d love for him to stay. I believe we have a squad here that can do something special over the next three or four years so hopefully he will be a big part of that.

“He is still only young so if he does decide to move on there is going to be a lot of expectation on him when you’re paying someone that kind of money.

“Obviously there is going to be a lot of interest in him, but I see him as a long-term player for our club and the future of our club.

“We can really build a side around him so fingers crossed he stays here because we’d love to see him be a one-club man and break all these records (at the Cowboys).”

The Cowboys have tabled a three-year deal at $500,000 a season but have no plans to pay Taumalolo more than they did for Matt Scott, whose annual deal is worth around $650,000.

The Cowboys believe Taumalolo is a work in progress with defensive problems that need work.

The club has also worked hard on his off-field discipline, including fining him for turning up late to training and wearing the wrong gear.

Like Thurston, Test prop James Tamou spurned better offers from Sydney clubs to stay at the Cowboys and he also implored Taumalolo not to quit the club.

“There’s a lot of things to weigh up, not just money,” Tamou said.

“I had no regrets deciding to stay here. My advice to James is not to worry too much about it. A few other guys stayed loyal, we decided to stick together and I hope Jason feels the same way because I get the feeling the club is on the verge of something special.’’