Plenty of fight in fierce NQ side

COWBOYS legend Ty Williams has no doubts that the class of 2017 can prove the non-believers wrong.

After all, Williams, who remains the club’s second-highest tryscorer, was in their same shoes not that long ago.

Williams was part of the Cowboys’ 2004 squad that came within touching distance of a grand final appearance that rugby league experts had all but dismissed as impossible.

Impossible because for nine years the Cowboys had toiled season after season, all without playing any finals footy.

It wasn’t the most star-studded NRL squad of that year either, but they worked hard for each other and that ethic took them past eventual 2004 pre-

THEY’VE STOOD UP AND TAKEN THEIR OPPORTUNITIES, THEY JUST SEEM TO DUST THEMSELVES OFF FROM ANY SETBACK AND KEEP GOING TY WILLIAMS miers the Bulldogs and the Brisbane Broncos.

Williams, who now coaches Queensland Cup side the Northern Pride, sees a similar dynamic between the 2004 and 2017 squads.

“We believed in ourselves and that’s what they’re doing now,” he said. “I’m so proud of those lads, they just keep turning up for each other and that’s what we always did.

“From the very start of that finals run, people weren’t giving us a chance, but it comes down to that club and what it stands for. No stone is left unturned and no matter what, you’re expected to work for your teammates.”

Then came North Queensland’s historic 2005 campaign, which again defied expectations to make an inaugural grand final appearance. Thrashed 50-6 by the Wests Tigers in week one of finals, the Cowboys turned it around to beat Melbourne and then Parramatta to book their grand final berth.

“When we got touched up in that first game no one gave us a chance,” Williams said.

“But we never doubted ourselves for a second, we just had to get on with the job and that’s what we did.

“What impressed a lot about this team is these young players. They’ve stood up and taken their opportunities, they just seem to dust themselves off from any setback and keep going.

“If they keep doing what’s worked for them, which is completing sets, they’re in with every chance.”

Williams said the Cowboys deserved to be rated a chance by pundits despite Parramatta’s 18-16 loss to premiership favourites the Melbourne Storm last weekend.

“Parramatta will be very confident and a lot of people have been talking about how impressive they were,” he said.

Cowboys second rower Ethan Lowe says when it comes to tonight’s game, there will be nothing more important than getting the fundamentals right.

“Like all finals games, it’s on possession and field position,” he said. “Morgo, Cootey and Te-Maire have been outstanding on the kicking game these last few weeks and I think that’s definitely where we’ll need to be on point – turning the ball over where we want to turn it over.”