WE WON’T LET THIS ONE SLIP

KANE Linnett says North Queensland won’t go into tonight’s clash against the Parramatta Eels expecting to rack up a cricket score.

With the drama surrounding halfback Chris Sandow’s departure, possible salary cap sanctions and last week’s 28- 4 defeat by the Bulldogs, the Eels rank as $ 9.50 outsiders to cause an upset and beat the Cowboys in Townsville tonight, where they have won just twice in the past 15 years.

The Cowboys have won 13 of their last 14 games and are expected to have co- captain Matt Scott and winger Matt Wright in the side after shaking off minor injury concerns.

But if the Cowboys need any reminders of the dangers of complacency, last year’s Round 25 clash against Cronulla is still fresh in the memory.

Missing eight first- choice players through ASADA suspension and injury, the Sharks faced a Cowboys side still with a chance of making the top four and at $ 1.03 favourites.

North Queensland led comfortably for most of the game before a spirited Cronulla brought back a seven- point deficit inside the final five minutes to send the game to

We haven’t really put in an 80- minute performance … so it would be good to get that this week

KANE LINNETT

golden point. The Cowboys prevailed through a Johnathan Thurston field goal that time and Linnett ( pictured) said his side wouldn’t be taking the Eels lightly.

“None of us are going into the game thinking we’re going to put a big score on them,” the Cowboys centre said.

“Each of us has to do our individual roles and if we do that and execute that then I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

Despite their 13 wins this year, the Cowboys have only the fifth- best points differential in the NRL and their biggest winning margin in Townsville is just 11 points this year.

Rather than get too worried about the size of the win, Linnett said finding the Cowboys’ first complete performance of the season was more important.

“We haven’t really put in an 80- minute performance all year so it would be good to get that this week,” he said.