MUST-WIN FOR COWS

After four straight losses, Coen Hess says the Cowboys must turn their season around

COWBOYS forward Coen Hess has conceded they’re “running out of time” to right the ship, branding tomorrow’s home clash against Canterbury a necessity to win to get their season rolling.

Hess (pictured) admitted the team was suffering from a lack of confidence after dropping their past four games to slump to a 1-4 record.

No team has made a grand final from a 1-5 start, but the first of three straight home games against the struggling Bulldogs presents an ideal chance for the Cowboys to generate some self-belief.

“Obviously you don’t win a competition in April but I guess we’re running out of time now,” Hess said.

“Lucky enough it is early, but I guess in reality we need to win this week.”

Although defensive lapses cost them, Hess said coach Paul Green had made a point of highlighting the positives of last week’s 22-12 loss to the unbeaten Warriors to keep morale high.

“Our desperation on the line in the second half, everyone was ramped up with a lot of enthusiasm,” Hess said.

“Even though our defensive techniques weren’t perfect, we were scrambling and finding ways to stop tries, which is a positive thing.

“Greeny didn’t harp too much on the negatives of the Warriors game. He showed us the positives and when we’re at our best, and that’s definitely translated on the (training) field.

“Probably the main thing we’re lacking at the moment is a bit of confidence. We’ve shown glimpses of what we’re capable of from time to time and with a bit of confidence, an 80-minute performance isn’t far away.”

Hess believes the Cowboys’ mojo will return once they scrap out a hardfought win, something they may have to do against an equally desperate Bulldogs.

“A focus for us last week was consecutive sets and I think we strung through 11,” Hess said.

“That’s one thing we have to worry about is high completions and kicking to the corners, and making them work hard to get out of their end.”