Green light for call on Scott

COWBOYS stars Michael Morgan and Jason Taumalolo have backed coach Paul Green’s decision not to hand Test prop Matt Scott a berth in Sunday’s NRL grand final.

Green is standing by the same 17 who have taken North Queensland to their Cinderella grand final run, saying Scott ( pictured) would only be considered if any of the current 17 suffered an injury between now and grand final day.

“The 17 guys that got us to the grand final will be the 17 guys that will play this weekend,” he said.

“With respect to some of the comments made last week, some of it got a little bit blown out of proportion and probably taken a little bit the wrong way.

“By no means was Matt suggesting that he should have been in the 17.

“When speaking about being considered for selection, it was more about him being available if needed.

“With that in mind – as I said – as long as nothing happens injury- wise throughout the week, the same 17 will play again this week.”

Taumalolo was not surprised that Green stuck with his squad.

“It’s a big call, but one that’s pretty good in our eyes,” the superstar lock said.

“I feel for ‘ Thumper’. He’s worked hard all year and probably deserved a shot, but in saying that so did everyone who has been playing the last month or so.

“I think he ( Scott) was a bit disappointed after it was announced he wouldn’t be playing, but if someone does get injured in training I think he would come in.

“But I think Corey ( Jensen) deserves his spot ... and deserves a chance at winning a premiership.

“The guys who have taken the field in the last three weeks have done their jobs well.”

Morgan said Scott had accepted Green’s decision with his pride intact.

“I know that he wants to play and he’s ready to go, but the last few weeks the guys have done a great job and they’re deserving of their op- portunity and Thumper knows that too,” he said.

“He’s been around long enough and he’s experienced enough to know that and I think it’s a credit to the guys who have stood up and done the job.

“For someone like Corey Jensen, he can get himself in the right headspace that ‘ yes I’m playing and I’m good to go’.”

Green said none of the 17 players who beat the Roosters in last weekend’s preliminary final were in any doubt to play.

“They’re the guys that got us there, so they deserve the chance to get the job done for us again on the weekend,” he said.

“If that’s not the case and we were to have something go against us, as a forward option Matt would come into the frame.”

Scott will be named in the Cowboys extended squad today after Green made shockwaves last week by including the Test and State of Origin prop in his 21- man squad for the first time since suffering his ACL injury in Round 2.

“Last week was a different situation in that Coen Hess picked up a slight injury through the week and by the time I needed to name the team we hadn’t actually met or trained,” Green said.

“I wasn’t exactly too sure how he had pulled up, but we all saw him get through the game on the weekend, so there’s no injury concerns there.”