SCOTT TO DO BETTER
Green urges Cowboys to lift for retiring title-winning skipper
COWBOYS coach Paul Green has called on his players to restore pride in the North Queensland jersey after labelling their 42-6 loss to the Knights as “unacceptable”.
Their record this season has drawn parallels to last year’s 13th placed finish when they farewelled Johnathan Thurston.
Green said he would not tolerate another blowout in the final three games, calling on his squad to play with respect for players such as the retiring Matt Scott.
“I would like to think there’s a bit more pride in the jersey and respect for blokes that will finish up this year,” Green said.
“I’d like to see the respect for what they’ve done for the club over the years.
“I’d like to see that for the rest of the year. Seeing what (Scott) puts himself through each week to get himself on the paddock now, some people need to have a good hard look at themselves.
“He’s a good example, you only need to look at what he’s doing for the club and what he’s done for the club over the years.
“That should be motivation enough to not play the way we played this afternoon.”
The loss was yet another blow for North Queensland, who were hailed as premiership contenders earlier in the year but instead have fallen to second last on the ladder.
The Cowboys host a desperate Panthers side, who need to win to ensure a top-eight finish, in Townsville on Friday night. And Green said despite being out of finals contention, his side had to finish the season positively and not be beaten so comprehensively as they were against Newcastle.
“It’s important we finish the season on a positive note,” he said.
“I think it’s more about how we play.
“We don’t want to see, certainly the way that game ended (on Saturday night).
“That’s not who we are or who we want to be.”
North Queensland’s casualty ward took another hit on the weekend, with backline star Jordan Kahu re-injuring his eye socket. Kahu only just returned from an eye socket injury suffered in Round 17 against the Roosters and seemed to damage it again just before halftime against the Knights.
Green said it had been a gutsy effort by Kahu to continue playing.
“Jordan Kahu might have done his eye socket again,” he said. “(It was a) tough effort from him to finish the game.
“That was tough. It happened just before halftime.”
Wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo is hoped to be ready for Friday’s game against Penrith after suffering a foot injury last week.