CELEBRATE WITH OUR ORIGIN CHAMPIONS POSTER IN
The Cowboys’ triumphant Origin trio may be battered and bruised but skipper Gavin Cooper says...
RETURNING HEROES: Cowboys players Coen Hess, Gavin Cooper and Michael Morgan arrived back at Townsville Airport from Origin duty, ahead of this weekend’s game in Cairns. Get tomorrow’s Weekend Post for your souvenir Maroons poster. COOPER CONFIDENT
NO JT, no worries. Origin-weary Cowboys captain Gavin Cooper has vowed to prove the club’s premiership hopes are still alive despite missing champion halfback Johnathan Thurston when they run on to Barlow Park on Sunday.
Drawing on the inspiration of their part in one of Queensland’s greatest series wins, Cooper and Origin teammates Michael Morgan and Coen Hess now have the Rabbitohs in their sights as they look to lead a run to the NRL finals.
While simply making it to the finals would be a monumental achievement, the Cowboys have won consecutive games without the champion No.7 on the back of Michael Morgan’s clarity on his newfound responsibilities.
IT doesn’t matter whether you’ve scaled the rugby league heights of Roy Asotasi or get a kick out of passing to your mate in the park, nothing brings people together like rugby league.
The Rabbitohs ambassador joined NRL Game Development officers including Jillaroos representative Renae Kunst at Jones Park yesterday for an all-abilities clinic, putting a smile on some faces in the lead-up to the Barlow Park blockbuster with the Cowboys on Sunday.
Asotasi, who played in the inaugural Cairns match in 2013 before finishing his career in England, said community in-
volvement was a grounding experience for those who had played at the top level.
“I like to think us as players and former players have got to be grateful,” he said.
“You take for granted your abilities and what you’re able to do on the field and then you come to all-ability clinics like we’re having here and you kind of look back and say, well, not everyone is as fortunate but one thing we all have in common is that we all have rugby league.
“They enjoy kicking the ball, passing the ball around and that’s all they need to do.
“It’s just about grabbing the ball and feeling like they’re part of something.
“As long as they’re throwing the ball around and have a smile on their face, I feel like we’ve done our job.”
Asotasi said a win on Sunday was crucial for the Bunnies to keep their season alive.
“They need the two points to stay in touch with the top eight,” he said.