WEATHER THE STORM
WITH HISTORY ON THEIR SIDE AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT FROM THEIR DIEHARD FANS AT HOME AND INSIDE A PULSATING ANZ STADIUM, THE NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS CAN RIDE A WAVE OF BELIEF TO DEFY THE EXPERTS YET AGAIN AND DEFEAT THE MELBOURNE STORM IN THE NRL GRAND FINA
WE KEPT TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE THAT WE BELIEVED WE COULD DO MUCH MORE COWBOYS CAPTAIN GAVIN COOPER
THE North Queensland Cowboys are 80 minutes away from completing one of the greatest stories in NRL history.
Tomorrow night they take on NRL juggernauts the Melbourne Storm, a rugby league team so efficient, so primed for perfection that only the most diehard fans would back the Cowboys for an astonishing grand final victory.
But North Queensland fans who have backed their boys since week one of finals are not letting so- called “expert” opinions get in the way.
When lead match referee Matt Cecchin blows the whistle for kick- off at ANZ Stadium, it will be two footy teams fighting it out for 80 minutes – and fight is what the Cowboys will do.
Cowboys captain Gavin Cooper, who took the leadership reins when co- captains Matt Scott and Johnathan Thurston went down with injury earlier in the season, will lead his inspirational band of teammates on to ANZ Stadium.
Never given much of a chance in the finals, Cooper’s men have conquered every obstacle.
Just one more against- the- odds performance will cement their place in rugby league folklore.
“We kept trying to tell people that we believed we could do much more,” Cooper said.
“I know the North Queensland fans haven’t wavered in their support, but sometimes the response that we get is ‘ you did it — you actually did it’. We tell people ‘ yes, we’re OK’.
“But yeah, it’s been a hell of a ride and for the North Queensland region it’s been massive.
“There’s people driving hours on end just to see us at the airport for 10 minutes, so to see that support is massive and I know we’re going to get that support and more going forward into this weekend.”
The Cowboys are rank outsiders with experts and punters alike, with many expecting the Cowboys to run into a Cameron Smith- led roadblock.
But no team is unbeatable, and even a future rugby league Immortal like Smith has his off nights.
History is even against Smith, who won his second Dally M Medal this week. The Storm have never won a premiership in the same year one of their players has won the Dally M.
The key for North Queensland tomorrow night will be staying in touch with Melbourne during the opening changes.
Playing catch- up against the Storm is a dangerous game.
No Cowboys fan would underestimate the ability of North Queensland to dig themselves out of a hole, after all they did so against the Cronulla Sharks and last weekend against the Sydney Roosters.
But with maestros like Smith and Cooper Cronk in their ranks, the Storm would most likely blunt any Cowboys comeback.
“The Melbourne Storm are very professional and they don’t give teams many opportunities,” Cowboys centre and former Storm flyer Justin O’Neill said.
“Cameron Smith controls the game so well and Cooper Cronk has been there, done that.
“They won’t give us too many opportunities. But if we can take those opportunities when we get them, and not waste them, we’ll be a strong chance.”
Nearly a month ago the Cowboys were 20 minutes away from Mad Monday celebrations.
Now they are a day away from playing on the NRL’s biggest stage.
It’s a story the North Queensland community has been waiting for, and the Cowboys have delivered it.
Go get ‘ em Cowboys.