Coote keen to remain at club
COWBOYS custodian Lachlan Coote has shot down suggestions of a return to Penrith, outlining plans to stay at North Queensland for the rest of his career.
Coote will confront his former club at Pepper Stadium tomorrow in what is shaping up as a crucial clash for the makeup of the top eight.
A win for the Cowboys would cement the injury-ravaged club’s spot in the finals series and keep their faint topfour hopes alive.
On the other hand, the eighth-placed Panthers are desperate to remain in the top eight after sneaking in last week.
Coote cut his teeth at Penrith, playing 83 NRL matches across six seasons before heading to Townsville, where he played in North Queensland’s 2015 premiership. He has spent four years, the first ruined by a knee injury, at the Cowboys and said he had no intention of heading back to the foot of the Blue Mountains.
“I would like to finish my career up here,” Coote said.
“I really love being up here and my family is now very settled in Townsville.
“I’m not sure where the rumours have come from but I’ve found a home up here.
“If I can get a job up here after footy, I would love to stay in North Queensland.
“The first game I played (against Penrith) in was a bit weird, but now I love going back to Penrith because my family and friends come out for those games.
“There’s no malice when it comes to playing them. Now it’s about getting the win for the Cowboys and getting the job done.”
With key quartet Johnathan Thurston (shoulder), Matt Scott (knee), Gavin Cooper (calf) and Antonio Winterstein (hamstring) sidelined, Coote and stand-in skipper Michael Morgan will play major roles in leading North Queensland’s finals charge.
Now 27 and having played 67 matches for the Cowboys, Coote said he felt the responsibility of being one of North Queensland’s leaders in a depleted team.
“I feel a lot more comfortable here now,” he said.
“Just with my communication, I feel like a leader. I am trying to help out the younger guys stepping into the team.
“I’m over the hill now, I’m 27, so I have to start leading.”
Coote has risen to the challenge of young gun Kalyn Ponga, keeping the teenage sensation out of the NRL side for most of the season.
Ponga will head to Newcastle next season seeking more opportunity and Coote is determined to remain in the Cowboys’ No.1 jersey for as long as he can.
“There’s no doubt the younger fellas are coming through and there was a lot of hype and talk around KP,” Coote said.
“With all the talk around how good he could be, that put some pressure on me, but I just had to keep playing my game here and not let it get to me.
“I’m glad I’ve been able to hold my spot.
“We have been getting some wins without JT (Thurston) and Thumper (Scott) but we have to step things up over the next few weeks to get some form going into the finals.”