NO FOCUS ON STORM HOODOO
COWBOYS coach Paul Green insists their horror record against Melbourne won’t weigh on his players’ minds as they attempt to address a seven- game losing streak against the defending premiers at 1300SMILES Stadium tonight.
Their season reeling with just three wins from 11 games, a visit from their bogey side is the last thing North Queensland needs.
A 32-12 win in the 2015 preliminary final, where they went on to claim the club’s last premiership, was the last time the Cowboys tasted victory over the Storm.
Green rejected claims the Storm had a psychological edge over his team after their 34-6 grand final win last year.
He also accused his team of “looking for an easy ride” after they were beaten purely on effort in a 30-14 loss at AAMI Park in round four.
The Cowboys’ main task will be recovering mentally after a last-second penalty cost them victory against Souths last week.
“We don’t buy too much into records over the years, the only thing that matters is next week,” Green said.
“It was a pretty gut wrenching way to finish last week. But we’ve got to move on and get our head around (the Storm), which we have done really well.”
The Cowboys expect Matt Scott to play despite suffering a medial injury against the Rabbitohs after he got through yesterday’s captain’s run unscathed. The Origin sides for the June 6 series opener in Melbourne are named Monday and the Maroons already have injury concerns in their pack.
“He got through it (training) OK, so if he pulls up well, he should be right to go,” Green said.
“There’s always a risk, I suppose, but it’s not his first rodeo. He’s got a fair idea of what he needs to do to get his job done, so that’s the most important thing.
“I’d like to think that (Origin) is in the back of his mind, (but) in the front of his mind should be we’re playing a good team, and the club needs a win.”