Season on the line for Cowboys' rep centre

COWBOY Justin O’Neill is expected to learn his fate this morning, with the centre’s season in doubt after he suffered a dislocated elbow in last Saturday’s loss to Penrith.

O’Neill was due to get his results on his elbow today, after Lachlan Coote (ankle) and Shaun Fensom (knee) took priority for the medical team yesterday.

Both are in doubt for Saturday’s key clash with Cronulla while O’Neill is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks, if not the rest of the season.

The expected losses will hit the Cowboys hard given Gavin Cooper (calf) and Antonio Winterstein (hamstring) are likely to miss the clash, while Te Maire Martin (knee) is also racing to prove his fitness.

Coach Paul Green indicated yesterday the club may have to appeal to the NRL for special dispensation for their secondtier salary cap.

The eighth-placed Cowboys have used 30 players this year and blooded five debutants.

Star forward Jason Taumalolo said the key for the club, however, was just to remain positive, even if their finals hopes were in jeopardy.

He said while it was tough to see a lot of his fellow forwards playing out of position last Saturday to cover for the team’s injuries, it just proved the determination the side had to succeed.

“The majority of the boys have been playing alongside each other for a while and that bond from off the field definitely showed on the field (on Saturday),” he said.

“It was a show of true character from the boys.

“It’s not a sight I want to see, having a front-rower playing in the halves and a couple of other forwards in the outside backs. But I was proud of the way the boys played.”