North Queensland will desperately miss Johnathan Thurston against St George Illawarra, but it's another player with the initials "JT" that the table-topping Dragons will be worried about.
The Cowboys, hopeful Thurston could return as soon as next week from a calf strain, have won just three of their past 13 matches without their captain, leading into Saturday night's clash at WIN Stadium.
But little of that streak takes into account the devastating form of NZ Kiwis forward Jason Taumalolo.
Taumalolo has recorded the most devastating opening to a season this century. Since Fox Sports Stats began in 2000, he is the first player to record more than 1000m in his first four games of the season, having been suspended in rounds three and four.
He is also only the third forward to record four consecutive games of more than 200 running metres in each match in that period, a feat only achieved by Paul Gallen in 2012 and Steve Price in 2007.
