His words clearly fell on deaf ears and the six-game win streak was snapped.
Quentin MacDonald and Vernon Fredericks scored off turnovers, while Liam Squire crossed after Kade Poki followed up a attempted Jimmy Cowan pot.
The sole try of the first half was a beauty. It went to Taranaki wing Jackson Ormond, but chalk it up to prop Angus Ta'avao for a major assist.
The No 3 seems to have developed an offload since heading to Taranaki from Auckland, and he gave a sweet pass to first five Codey Rei, who then fed Ormond. His scrummaging, however, is not of the same quality.
Tasman thought they had one of their own just minutes later when wing Viliami Lolohea crossed. But TMO Rob Lord ruled it out, correctly as it turned out, due to an obstruction by skipper Shane Christie on Taranaki rake Hika Elliot.
Makos prop Kane Hames, in a continuation of his Highlanders' form, gave Ta'avao some real curry in the scrums, but the Makos, missing the likes of Marty Banks, Billy Guyton and Peter Samu, could not get their A game going. Discipline was a problem for them, as it has been for the last three matches. Referee Kane McBride was losing patience with the Makos.
Jimmy Cowan had a running battle with Kurt Baker. But too often skill execution was found wanting, until the second half.
Centre Kieron Fonotia was largely bottled up, unsurprising when he had a strong defender opposite him in the form of Charlie Ngatai, the Taranaki captain, but he did score the vital bonus point try in the 74th minute.
Taranaki will have a good eight days to prepare for Canterbury in the October 17 semifinal. They won there less than a fortnight ago.
Tasman 35 (Quentin MacDonald, Vernon Fredericks, Liam Squire, Kieron Fonotia tries; David Havili 3 con, pen, Trent Renata 2 pen) Taranaki 17 (Jackson Ormond, Berny Hall tries; Codey Rei con, Charlie Ngatai con, pen) Halftime: 7-3 Taranaki