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Storm won't stir up Taumalolo in NRL GF

Melbourne have learned a lesson from the Sydney Roosters' NRL preliminary-final loss to North Queensland and won't be calling out Jason Taumalolo.

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Source: AAP


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Melbourne are refusing to wave a red rag in front of North Queensland's rampaging Jason Taumalolo ahead of Sunday's NRL grand final.

The Storm took notice of Taumalolo's big performance after he was called out by Sydney Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves before last Saturday's preliminary final.

The Dally M medallist smashed the Roosters' forwards run metres, posting 256m while the best of the opposition forwards, Boyd Cordner, managed just 130m.

Melbourne assistant coach Jason Ryles says the Storm can only try to limit the damage done by imposing ball-runner Taumalolo rather than stop him.

The Storm can look back to round 15 when the Cowboys' lock almost single-handedly conjured up a win with a 300m effort before a late Brodie Croft field goal snatched victory for Melbourne at AAMI Park.

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"One thing is that you don't call him out; you don't poke the bear," said Ryles.

"You don't stop him, you just try to limit his impact as much as you can and, obviously, we have a plan around that but it's one thing saying it and another doing it," said Ryles.

A former Test prop, Ryles said Melbourne wouldn't make the mistake of sending one defender out to try to bring Taumaulo down.

He rated the 24-year-old as a "once in a generation player".

"He's big, powerful, he's got footwork and he also plays big minutes without getting sloppy around the ruck," Ryles said.

"He's as good as you'll see as far as a middle forward is concerned."


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