BETS ARE ON NQ COWBOYS
DON’T MISS OUR SPECIAL GIANT POSTER INSIDE WEEKEND POST
COWBOYS enforcer Coen Hess says the pathway that served him so well in his meteoric rise to the NRL is the secret behind the seamless transition of players into the top grade.
Hess has been a fixture for the Cowboys in 2017 but just over 12 months ago he had been fighting his way into regular NRL football from under-20s through the Northern Pride.
He said it was the same “ideal” pathway that made it easy for the likes of Corey Jensen to slot into the NRL and play to coach Paul Green’s simple game plan.
“I think it’s just the simplicity of everything about it,” Hess said. “Everyone has been training really hard throughout the year and they know what’s expected and if they go out there and do their simple job well they’re contributing.”
Shrewd recruitment of players such as well-known workhorse Shaun Fensom, who will make up the Cowboys bench forward attack against the Roosters, has also made filling the void of injured players easier.
One of the biggest has been Matt Scott, who has earned himself a spot on the Cowboys extended bench to face the Roosters, but Hess said whether he was on the field or not, his presence would still have a huge influence as it has done all year.
“Obviously he’s one of our leaders but the guys that have taken the field in his place have done a really good job,” he said.
“I’m not too sure if he will play, but just having him in the squad fills us with a lot of confidence.”
Hess said Scott’s ability to even be considered for selection so soon after what was expected to be a season-ending knee injury was all the inspiration he needed to push through his own niggles.
He said it was inspirational to see mates put their bodies on the line and beat the odds, just as the Cowboys had done throughout the finals series.
“I think it has been the case all year. A lot of the boys play with niggling injuries and I guess that’s what’s expected now,” Hess said.
“A lot of it comes down to our high performance unit and even the players themselves.
“They want to be playing finals football and they want to do everything they can to make sure they can play.”
editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost