After an injury-destroyed start to the season, Cousins has improved with every game and Rawlings is rapt with the former Eagle's contribution on and off the field.
"He is a very impressive bloke," Rawlings told afl.com.au. "We've scratched the surface a little bit of what he's dealing with, moving interstate and the history, and we have a good open discussion once a week, he and I.
"Whether it starts with footy and goes elsewhere, I really look forward to those chats because he's a terrific guy.
"I rate him hugely and if it means I'm going over the top with my praise for him, I don't really care because I think he deserves it with how he's gone about it."
Cousins injured his hamstring in round one and returned through Coburg in the VFL, where Rawlings was coach at the time.
He flirted with his form of old when collecting 35 possessions against Carlton in round 15 and Rawlings said the 31-year-old had been outstanding at both levels.
"He's a beauty. He's been absolutely sensational for me, both when he played one game at Coburg – he was brilliant, and our Coburg-listed players just loved the experience – and in the four games I've coached him at AFL.
"He will try and carry out the instructions that have been put forward to him, but he plays so much on instinct.
"I've challenged him twice in-game, and the response I've got both times has been profound. He loves being challenged, because most of the time he knows he goes about it the right way.
"But if he's challenged, it seems there's something sub-conscious within him that he wants to prove someone wrong or try and correct it for you and do something about it. I don't know which one motivates him, but he's been excellent."
Rawlings is not the only one at Richmond who has been captured by Cousins and he added that the Brownlow Medallist had now found his place within the team.
Midfielder Brett Deledio said last week that the club had to keep Cousins on because of how much his hard work inspired his teammates.
"I don't know if revere him is too strong a word but I think he feels comfortable and they treat him as one of the boys now, where early in the piece that wasn't the case because of his star factor," Rawlings said.
"But he's having contributions in meetings, he's got strong opinions and I think he sees the game well.
"For someone coming back in to the game, trying to restore their reputation and influence games of footy – to still do what he does for his teammates, and the energy that he shows in the rooms before a game, trying to rev his teammates up – I think that's lacked a little bit in this group over the years.
"They don't have someone who can really get them going spiritually. He's brought that to the table."
Ahead of Rawlings' first game in charge, against West Coast, Cousins gave a powerful speech to the other midfielders before the Tigers took to the field for a first quarter that set up the victory.
"I wasn't privy to it, but I got a bit of feedback about what it was about, and people just wanted to capture it, what he was able to say and how he worded it," Rawlings said.
"The feedback from the midfielders, and also Wayne (Campbell, assistant coach), was that if we could bottle it up and retain it, it will put us in good stead and serve us well in the future.
"He's got a very good understanding of the game and what's required to be successful."
