Coote wants to be around for long haul
COWBOYS fullback Lachlan Coote has signalled his intentions to stay in North Queensland beyond this season, believing the club is building towards something special with its next generation of young stars.
Coote is one of 17 Cowboys players off contract at season’s end including the likes of Ethan Lowe, Jake Granville, Justin O’Neill, and Antonio Winterstein.
The 27- year- old has put contract talks on hold as the Cowboys focus on Friday night’s season opener against the Cronulla Sharks, but he made it clear that his preference is to stay in Townsville.
Coote pointed to the longterm deals signed by Jason Taumalolo and Michael Morgan as proof of the club’s exciting future and said he hoped to remain a part of it.
“I’d love to be a part of the team for the next few years, especially with Morgo and Jason signing long- term Coote said.
“They’re always going to be part of this club and there’s going to be some great things happening here over the next couple of years.
“It would be good to hang around. I obviously won’t last 10 years, but I’d like to be here for a few more.
“You always want to try and get it ( contract talks) done, but there’s not much pressure there.
“There’s a lot of boys off contact so the club has got some big decisions to make.”
Coote won’t have the chance to push his claims for a new deal this weekend after confirming he will miss the opening round due to a hamstring injury.
The 157- game veteran suffered a slight hamstring strain during pre- season training be- contracts,” fore aggravating the injury in North Queensland’s final trial match against the Storm in Brisbane.
Coote lasted little more than 10 minutes in that game before he was replaced by utility Ben Hampton, who is expected to be named at fullback when coach Paul Green reveals his Round 1 team today.
It’s a frustrating setback given Coote ruled himself out of Scotland’s World Cup campaign last year to ensure he would get a full preseason with the Cowboys, but he was confident he’d be fit to play the Broncos in Brisbane in Round 2.
“You have a big preseason and get the body right back how you want it, but unfortunately you can just have a little setback like that,” Coote said.
“I thought my fitness was good and I got my strength back up to where I wanted it be.
“I stayed out of the World Cup and I think that was the right decision just to get the body right and have a full preseason.
“It’s nothing too much. I think there would have been a slight little tear in there, but I’m just trying to take it day- by- day and get back by Round 2.”