The solution to stopping North Queensland wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo is simple, former NRL hardman Mark Carroll believes.
However, it may be easier said than done.
After what he described as a "pop gun" effort from Sydney Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Carroll has dared Melbourne's pack to finally stand up to hulking lock Taumalolo if they want to win Sunday's NRL grand final.
"How would I take him on? I tell you what, I wouldn't go low - my first tackle would be a penalty, I guarantee you," he told Fox Sports' NRL 360.
"I haven't seen anyone stand up to him yet.
"Be front-on to him, all day. I would give him everything.
"Come out of the line and give him a shake, I haven't seen the whites of his eyes yet."
The Manly premiership-winner said Melbourne had the pack to "demolish" Taumalolo, who made an example of his preliminary final tormentor Waerea-Hargreaves last weekend.
Waerea-Hargreaves raised eyebrows when he called out Taumalolo before the grand final qualifier.
The Kiwi international duly made him pay in a 256m effort that sparked the Cowboys' 29-16 upset and booked a second grand final appearance in three years.
Carroll nominated 201cm, 125kg Storm bench forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona as the man to potentially stop Taumalolo.
"The Eastern Suburbs bloke came out beating his chest wanting to give it to him and what we saw was like a pop gun," said Carroll, who played in three straight grand finals with Manly, winning in 1996.
"I think you need to get in his brain a bit.
"He's got these magnificent teeth but I would be in his grill every tackle.
"See the size of the Melbourne forwards - they are humungous.
"He (Asofa-Solomona) is 120kg, he could demolish him."
Former NSW captain Ben Elias said Taumalolo was the key to the grand final, not Melbourne's "big three" of Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk.
"Their No.13 (Taumalolo) is without doubt the best player on that paddock," he told NRL 360.
"You can throw in Smith, Cronk, Slater.
"That bloke (Taumalolo) is the most damaging, effective footballer on the paddock.
"He's going to make the Cowboys a real big chance on Sunday."
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