Cowboy urged to take charge in Qld Cup
COWBOYS coach Paul Green has challenged Jake Clifford to embrace being Northern Pride’s main man in the Queensland Cup finals after his shock omission from the team to play the Titans on Saturday.
Instead of playing alongside Johnathan Thurston in his last career game at a sold-out Cbus Super Stadium, the 20-year-old will turn out for the Pride in an elimination semi-final against Easts Tigers in Cairns.
Te Maire Martin (ankle) returns to the Titans’ halves after missing last week’s 44-6 win over Parramatta, with Ben Hampton retaining his spot at fullback after bagging two tries in Thurston’s home farewell.
It means 2015 premiership star Lachlan Coote’s Cowboys career is likely over. The fullback is expected to depart at the end of the year, while centre Kane Linnett will play his last Cowboys game.
Clifford gradually grew in confidence after making his NRL debut in round 19 and racked up three try assists against the Eels in his best first-grade performance thus far.
But Green insisted sending him back to Queensland Cup, where Clifford dominated earlier this year, was always part of the plan.
“Te Maire is the incumbent New Zealand five-eighth, so it’s not like he’s losing his position to a mug,” Green said. “Part of his development is helping steer an Intrust Super Cup team through a finals series as well.
“I said to him when he came into the team that if the Pride made the semis, I’d like to see him play a role in that. It’s a good opportunity to learn to steer a team through the big games without the pressure of an NRL match.”