Bolton: Cowboys record is shameful

COWBOYS forward Scott Bolton has delivered a blunt assessment of the team’s form on home turf this year, labelling its performances to date as “embarrassing”.

North Queensland fell to their third defeat in Townsville this year on Friday night, going down 26-6 to Parramatta.

While they have sealed three wins at 1300SMILES Stadium, the losing record is one the club is not happy with given the trip there is usually one of the toughest for opposition teams to make.

As well as their loss to the Eels, the Cowboys have also suffered defeat to the Wests Tigers and Sea Eagles at home this year.

“It’s embarrassing, that’s what it is,” Bolton said.

“I’m embarrassed about the three losses we’ve had here. Usually that’s our away record but at the moment it’s our home record and that’s in front of our home fans.”

The Cowboys have had a mixed start to the NRL season, but have also suffered a number of injuries to key players, including Matt Scott (knee), Jake Granville (broken leg), Lachlan Coote (calf) and Johnathan Thurston (calf).

However, Bolton said those injuries were no excuse for their losses.

While he said the team was not lacking confidence, he said it was making far too many mistakes.

“We just need to hold the ball and grind teams down a little bit more than what we’re doing,” he said.

“Completing at 60 per cent just isn’t good enough and isn’t going to win footy games.

“In the long run we’ll definitely be a better team for it.”

The Cowboys’ next home game will not come until June.

With the representative round this week and a bye at the end of the month, the Cowboys only have two matches in May, both of which will be played in Sydney.