UP in North Queensland teammates of Jason Taumalolo are happy enough if the big fella is up and out of bed.

Yet in 2017 they witnessed the dramatic transformation from layabout to leader just when they needed it most.

Literally leading from the front with his 466 runs in the toughest part of the field that yielded an NRL-high of 5,050 metres, Taumalolo expanded his influence by having a more vocal approach in Cowboys team meetings.

It’s not a role he has been comfortable with in previous years but given the absence of the club’s co-captains Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott due to injury his side’s finals hopes relied on it.

Round 20

Almost everything good that the Cowboys did in qualifying for the finals in eighth spot and then embarking on a giant-killing run through the finals series came on the back of a Taumalolo charge but the impact of his increased responsibility has the potential to benefit North Queensland for the next decade.

Renowned for his love of movies, video games or simply sleeping, the 24-year-old not only took on a more senior role at club level after committing himself to a record 10-year deal but became the centrepiece of Tonga’s run to the World Cup semi-finals.

Seeing Taumalolo burst from the ground to lead the Sipi Tau in the emotion-charged World Cup clash with New Zealand in Hamilton will be one of the enduring images of an unforgettable tournament and signified how far he had progressed from the young man busted for throwing eggs at cars just 12 months earlier.

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Ethan Lowe has been Taumalolo’s roommate at the Cowboys for the past two years and has no doubt that the injuries suffered by Thurston and Scott forced the 2016 Dally M winner to play a more active role within the playing group.

“Big ‘Hulky’ is not the most vocal bloke going around,” Lowe told foxsports.com.au.

“He tends to just let his game do the talking but last year he took a lot more leadership in that area.

“He did a lot more talking than what he normally does in teams meetings and stuff like that.

“It’s a struggle some days trying to get him up and out of bed.

“He sneaks the PlayStation in every now and again so we do a bit of that but big Jase is a great roomie.

Jason Taumalolo carried the Cowboys on his enormous shoulders during the 2017 NRL finals series. Photo: Mark Evans Source: Getty Images

“He’s not too bad, just trying to get him up in the morning is probably the hardest thing.

“The last couple of years you can see a real change in how he trains and how he approaches life.”

Jokingly referred to as the ‘King of Tonga’ by his Cowboys teammates, Taumalolo represents one of a number of North Queensland players who have emerged from the under-20s system to now become senior members of the team.

Having made his NRL debut less than three months after turning 17, Taumalolo has now played 139 first grade games, closely followed by the likes of Michael Morgan (128), Ethan Lowe (93) and Kyle Feldt (74).

All four took time to adjust to the demands of the NRL after coming out of the junior ranks but Lowe believes they will look back on the 2017 season as one where they truly emerged as leaders within the club.

Jason Taumalolo during pre-season training with the Cowboys. Photo: Alix Sweeney Source: News Corp Australia

“We took on more of a leadership role a lot sooner than we expected last year,” Lowe added.

“’Morgo’ stepped up really well, the same as ‘Feldty’ and big Jase.

“Big ‘Hulky’ stepped up in a massive leadership role there which probably wouldn’t have happened if those boys were around for the whole year.

“I think we’re going to be a lot better for it this year.”

Added Feldt: “We lost Matt Scott in round two for the whole year and then in round seven we lost ‘Johno’ but then not only ‘Morgo’ but ‘Lowey’ and Jase stepped up and took a leadership role and obviously myself at the back-end of the year,” said Feldt.

“We aren’t those young players any more. We’re all coming up to 100-odd games and really stepping up and showing our maturity on and off the field around the club.

“We’ve got a young squad this year, there are a lot of young boys in there so just trying to make it more of a leadership role for all the older boys.

“Not just the likes of Johno, Morgo and Matt Scott, all the younger boys as well have to step up and help them out.”