GREEN’S JOB IS SECURE Cowboys CEO backs coach as pressure grows
COWBOYS CEO Jeff Reibel has vehemently denied coach Paul Green’s tenure is under threat this year following a run of poor form since the NRL season resumed.
The 2020 campaign was met with fanfare for the North Queensland outfit after the marquee signing of Valentine Holmes, along with NZ international Esan Marsters and rookie hooker Reece Robson.
But while they hit the ground running post-COVID with a 36-6 trumping of the Gold Coast Titans, three deplorable losses to the Sharks, Warriors and Tigers have ignited the pressure on Green.
However Reibel said the onus was not solely on the coach – who delivered the club its first premiership in 2015, as well as two Nines titles.
Now was the time to look within themselves and work out of the rut as a cohesive unit.
“All you have to do is look at our comments over the last few days, Paul Green’s coach, he will be a coach,” Reibel said.
“Now is not a time to look at any one individual. Now it’s time to take ownership as a club and work together with getting the results that we know that we can achieve and that’s something that’s very important to us.
“So now’s the time for commitment, now’s the time for working together.”
Reibel’s backing comes after Cowboys forward Josh McGuire said it was “irresponsible” to blame anyone other than the playing group. The veteran was steadfast in that Green was not the one on the field committing the errors that contributed to the team’s woes and the players who wore the jersey needed to take full responsibility for their output.
While the 30-year-old didn’t mince his words when addressing the media on Monday, it was a stance supported by Reibel, who said it was what was needed from the group.
“That just shows leadership and it just reinforces our position about working together and supporting each other,” Reibel said.
“We’ve got some of the most passionate members in the league and we know what we mean to North Queensland.
“We know our responsibility in North Queensland and what Josh came out (and said on Monday) is taking that ownership and we as a club take that ownership together.”