Jason Taumalolo is arguably the scariest hitter in the NRL.
At 260 pounds and with the pace of a rapid winger, he's undoubtedly one of the most dangerous men to ever play the game of rugby league.
I mean, imagine running full pelt at him.
Advert
Or even worse, imagine him running full pelt at you.
Well, NRL fans got to see a completely different side to the bulldozing forward during last night's clash between the North Queensland Cowboys and Newcastle Knights - and it made for wholesome viewing.
Taumalolo was running out for his 200th NRL appearance and to celebrate the momentous occasion the Cowboys had organised for the 27-year-old's family to lead him out onto the field.
Advert
And one member of the family who couldn't possibly miss out on Taumalolo's career milestone was his dog Ollie.
As Taumalolo sprinted out from the tunnel at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, his family awaited him on the pitch - including his beloved pedigree pup.
Seeing his dog waiting patiently, a surprised Taumalolo made a B-line and sprinted over to give the Labrador a big hug before kissing his partner and greeting his family.
Grinning from ear-to-ear, he then sprinted out onto the pitch to join his Cowboys teammates.
"It's a family get-together that includes the trusty pooch as well," Fox League commentator Andrew Voss said.
Advert
If you need to get any more psyched up ahead of a big game, not that Taumalolo does, then seeing your entire family just seconds prior will undoubtedly do it.
Despite being reduced to 11 men at one point, the North Queensland Cowboys ended up clinching a hard-earned 36-20 victory over the Knights which brings them into the top eight on the NRL ladder.
Some rugby league fans (mainly animal lovers) seemed more focused on Taumalolo's pregame embrace with his dog rather than the game's final result.
Topics: Dog, Rugby League, nrl, Australia, Newcastle Knights
