Ex Newcastle coach has hope for Cowboys

NORTH Queensland’s fairytale run to the NRL grand final resembles Newcastle’s famous Cinderella story in 2001, according to premiershipwinning coach Michael Hagan.

The Cowboys enter Sunday’s decider against Melbourne as major underdogs after relying on other results to scrape into eighth spot on the final day of the regular season.

According to one bookmaker, only one side in the past 20 grand finals were at shorter odds.

Hagan’s men finished third however were expected to be easy prey for a Parramatta juggernaut that racked up a record 943 points that season.

“We were definitely outsiders in the betting but from a team point of view, we always gave ourselves a great hope in the game,” Hagan said. “There’s some similarities this week with Melbourne being so short and the Cowboys being outsiders, but it’s more about the belief.

Much like how the Knights had the experience of the 1997 decider, this year’s Cowboys also know what to expect following their maiden title two years ago. Hagan points out how both teams have big- game players.

“We had a number of players that played in a grand final before like Robbie O’Davis, Mark Hughes, Adam McDougall, Andrew Johns, and Billy Peden,” he said. “

“The Cowboys would argue some similar things with having been in a grand final two years ago.”