HELI- YEAH
Can Green’s Cowboys stop the Storm ...
PAUL Green’s confidence was sky- high yesterday, literally.
The Cowboys coach got behind the controls of a helicopter and took to the skies over Townsville to gain some more flying hours as he edges closer to gaining a pilot’s licence.
Green has had a fixed- wing aircraft licence since he was 18 and needs another five hours of flying time to qualify as a helicopter pilot. Yesterday’s flight was a welcome distraction from the build- up to Sunday’s NRL grand final against the Storm.
“I do it to take my mind off ( co coaching), it’s relaxing,” he said. “In n North Queensland it ( flying) is the best. There’s so many beautiful spots.”
Meanwhile, the excitement continues to build around the North, with the countdown well under way to Sunday’s decider.
Cowboys fans will be able to watch their team train at 1300SMILES Stadium from 10.30am until 11.30am today. Tomorrow the team will leave Townsville for Sydney for a series of engagements, including the Dally M Awards and grand final breakfast, before knuckling down for their final preparations on Friday and Saturday.
AS THE fulltime siren rang out across Allianz Stadium on Saturday night, cheers and tears of pride and excitement filled Bowen’s streets.
However, excited celebrations turned to an anxious calm as the town nervously awaits today’s team list to see if local boy Corey Jensen makes the grand final cut.
Jensen’s chances of retaining his spot improved yesterday when coach Paul Green indicated he would not select co- captain Matt Scott, who has been recovering from a knee injury, unless there was a late forced change to the 17 who played against the Roosters.
Yesterday, Jensen posters went up across town as locals took to social media to back Bowen’s favourite son.
“It would be a tragedy if he missed out,” Bowen councillor and league tragic Michael Brunker said.
“As a young fella, he has held his own and in the semis he made a few crucial tackles.
“He has done his job to be there and he deserves his spot in the grand final team.”
In a town where he is seen as a hero, a Cowboys premiership would further elevate the status of Jensen, whose face is painted on the grandstand at the club where he played, refereed and manned the canteen as a junior.
And while Bowen would love to see Jensen with a premiership ring, the town is set to turn blue, grey and yellow this week whether the player dubbed Terminator by teammates plays or not.