BOLTON: WE NEED TO BE BETTER AT HOME

COWBOYS prop Scott Bolton says the gruelling State of Origin period has become more important than ever for the side after they failed to take full advantage of a glut of home games to start the year.

Six of North Queensland’s first nine games were played at home.

But after losing just once in Townsville last year, to grand finalists Melbourne, they have already dropped three of six home games – to the Tigers, Manly and Parramatta – in 2017.

It means they enter round 12 in seventh spot with a 6- 5 record before tonight’s crucial clash with the Gold Coast Titans at 1300SMILES Stadium.

The Cowboys beat the Titans 32- 26 on the glitter strip in round four, but the hosts were without a number of key players, including New South Wales representatives Jarryd Hayne and Nathan Peats.

Bolton branded their home form “embarrassing” after the loss to the Eels and the Cowboys are looking to bounce back after giving up a 14- 0 halftime lead at Cronulla before last week’s bye.

“Our home performances probably haven’t been up to scratch, I don’t think. We need to look to be a whole lot better, especially in front of our home fans,” Bolton said.

“They’re a team who are never out of the game, they’re always competing and never go away.

“For us it’ll be just to have a committed 80- minute performance and build on our home performances here.

“They’ll be a lot stronger ( than round four), their combinations will be better and players have come back from injury. We have to concentrate on what we do and we’ll get the result.”

Without Johnathan Thurston to steer the ship, the Cowboys’ poor last tackle options was a major reason they were overrun by defending premiers Cronulla in their last game.

On two occasions they were tackled on the last play in their own half, which ultimately led to Sharks tries.

“( We learned from the Sharks game) to complete well and finish our sets well,” Bolton said.

“Had we turned them around a few times we may not have had to deal with some of their individuals like we had to.

“At the end of the day we have to complete high and get the ball down the other end of the field.”