O’Neill back but Clifford misses out
JUSTIN O’Neill has earned an NRL recall, but the Cowboys have poured cold water on a potential debut for young gun Jake Clifford in Saturday night’s clash with the Dragons at 1300SMILES Stadium.
O’Neill replaces Antonio Winterstein on the wing following his three-game stint with the Townsville Blackhawks, while Francis Molo comes on to the bench for the injured Shane Wright (hamstring).
O’Neill has been solid without being spectacular for the Blackhawks, but Cowboys coach Paul Green believed that time back in the Queensland Cup had done wonders for his confidence.
“I think for him it was probably a bit more of a confidence thing when he went out of the side and I think playing back there (with the Blackhawks) has got that winning feeling back,” Green said. “Sometimes if you’re in a rut the harder you try the worst you get.
“Just by taking the pressure off you can get back to just concentrating on whatever the player does best.
“I’ve noticed a difference in him around training so hopefully he brings that enthusiasm with him on Saturday.”
Northern Pride halfback Clifford has been crying out for a first-grade call-up this season and he only further proved his class when he guided Queensland to their firstever Under-20s Origin victory last week, scoring two tries and having a hand in two more in the 30-12 triumph.
Green has hinted that he’ll use the last seven games of North Queensland’s season to usher in a new generation of talent, but admitted it was unlikely Clifford would get his chance against the Dragons.
“Without worrying about finals or anything like that, you still want to play well each week and so whilst part of it is developing for the future, you’ve also got to pick a team that you think can get the job done,” Green said. “I think it’s definitely the situation with Cliffo.
“He’s done everything asked of him so far this year so it would be great if we could give him an opportunity in first-grade at some stage.
“I won’t say it’s out of the question, but at this stage it’s probably looking unlikely until we get back on the paddock, do some training, and have a look at how we need to play against the Dragons.”
Veteran prop Matt Scott is still sidelined with a troublesome neck injury and Green conceded it was tough to put a time frame on his recovery, although the coach did rule out surgery at this stage.
“We’re increasing the load on his training so it’s just a matter of seeing how the neck copes with that,” Green said.
The Dragons have hit a bit of a rough patch as they prepare to travel to Townsville — losing their past two matches — but Green insisted he wasn’t sweating the bounceback factor.
“It doesn’t matter. We need to play well, that’s all I’m worried about,” he said. NOT even the pulling power of Phil Gould could lure Matt Lodge from Brisbane with the controversial prop declaring he would not leave the Broncos.
Lodge will confront former club Penrith for the first time in Broncos colours at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
The 23-year-old came through Penrith’s junior grades before making his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers in 2014.
Lodge was sacked by the Tigers following his infamous New York rampage in 2015 and spent more than two years in the NRL wilderness before resurrecting his career at the Broncos this season.
A prodigious talent, the 121kg Lodge has attracted interest from rival clubs following his impressive return to the NRL.
He met with Penrith supremo Gould late last year, with Gould revealing Lodge had indicated he may one day like to return to the Panthers.
However, that will defi-