Cowboys on ropes change game plan
coach Paul Green has ordered his team to unleash the shackles against Melbourne Storm to avoid being “choked to death” by the masters of slowing down the ruck.
The Storm have built a reputation as the best wrestlers in the competition, with skipper Cameron Smith taking advantage of the extra space to lay on four tries in last week’s 40-6 thrashing of Manly.
The Cowboys know simple football, which they’ve adopted since Johnathan Thurston was ruled out for the year through injury, won’t be enough to break down the league’s stingiest defence.
The match is a virtual mustwin for fifth-placed North Queensland if they want to keep their top-four hopes alive.
A win could see them enter the top four, but a loss could place them just two points ahead of ninth spot.
They are also looking to avoid a fifth-straight loss against the Storm.
“Things like ball control and discipline, they’re the masters of that so you have to be good there, but you also have to play footy,” Green said.
“If you play normal one-out footy or don’t play with one eye open, they’ll just choke you to death.”
The Cowboys showed they were working towards unveiling a more expansive game by laying on two tries with wellexecuted set plays against the Roosters last week.
They squandered a 16-6 halftime lead to go down 22-16, but it has resulted in a more intense build-up after Green said some players may have approached the clash against the second-placed Roosters “just another game”.
“You’d like to think when you’re playing the competition leaders the boys would be up for it,” Green said.
Middle forward Shaun Fensom (rib cartilage) trained strongly yesterday and will return to the line-up in place of youngster Braden Uele.
Tonight’s match will be the first chance for Cowboys fans to watch 2018 recruit Jordan McLean in action after the Storm prop returned from five weeks out with a hamstring injury against Manly. like Rd 15, 2017 Storm 23 d Cowboys 22 at AAMI Park Qualifying final Storm 16 d Cowboys 10 at AAMI Park Rd 21, 2016 Storm 16 d Cowboys 8 at 1300SMILES Stadium Rd 10, 2016 Storm 15 d Cowboys 14 at Suncorp Stadium