BOLTS ORIGIN READY

QInnisfail junior Scott Bolton has been a fantastic servant for the Cowboys and some are putting him in the frame for an Origin call-up this year. Do you think he’s up to a Maroon jersey?

AI’ve always thought he’s capable of that. He’s a very understated player. He’s always been very reliable. A very good player. When I say understated I mean understated outside the Cowboys. He’s played 182 games now and he’s one of the better blokes you meet, always been extremely low-maintenance, never been any trouble, professional and you could throw him into any arena in any team and he won’t let you down. Hopefully he will end up a one-club player.

QBolts is off contract for next season. Are you close to finalising negotiations to keep him on next season?

AWe’re just trying to get, I suppose, at the moment, a little more certainty around the (salary) cap given the NRL have made an offer to the RLPA, but he’s a guy that’s high on our radar to get it done. He doesn’t have an agent anymore, so he does it himself, which makes him a little bit unusual but our intention will be to keep him and as long as he wants to play NRL, hopefully it will be at the Cowboys.

QWill there be a clause in there to make sure he’s a bit more careful on his famous fishing trips?

AIt was a valuable lesson to him, but look, we all understand what his lifestyle is away from rugby league and I think it’s one of the reasons he’s been such a good player for a long time, that he actually has an outlet and it’s one of those things, hey.