Coote toughs out pain
COWBOYS fullback Lachlan Coote will play with painkilling injections to his battered ribs in a bid to prove to coach Paul Green he deserves a new deal.
Coote bounced back from a poor first game to show he is still one of the NRL’s smartest fullbacks with a polished performance in North Queensland’s 26- 14 win against the Gold Coast on Saturday.
The 28- year- old was brave in his second NRL appearance of the season, pushing through a painful rib injury which flared following multiple collisions and forced him from the field late in the game.
Rib cartilage injuries are considered to be among the most painful, but Coote has refused to be sidelined by the problem and wants to face the Raiders at 1300SMILES Stadium on Saturday.
Off- contract at season’s end, the 2015 premiershipwinning No. 1 said he did not want to miss any action as he pushes for a new deal in North Queensland.
“I’m a bit dusty,” Coote said.
“I had a bit of rib cartilage from last week and I think I extended it even more. Hopefully, it is just rib cartilage and I can be back next week.
“I don’t want to miss anything. I’ll have to get needles. It wasn’t too bad ( before the Titans game) but I’ll have to get needles for next week.
“I’d like to stay on the field for the boys and team, but that’s obviously in the back of my mind.
“I’m off- contract. It’s ideal to be on the park and playing some good footy.”
From the outside, Coote and Green’s relationship is intriguing.
The Cowboys coach is often reluctant to talk about the 159- game fullback who brings plenty to North Queensland’s attack when at his best.
A hamstring injury opened the door for Ben Hampton to shine at fullback in the first four rounds and relegated Coote to the Queensland Cup for two weeks.
Hampton is a sharp ball-runner, but the Cowboys are a more dangerous outfit with Coote chiming in alongside halves Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan.
With Kangaroos fiveeighth Morgan locked up for five years and Green last week signing a three- year contract extension, Coote said he hoped North Queensland would offer him a new deal.
“I’d say yes,” Coote said when asked if he felt wanted in Townsville.
“They’ve got a big job with all the boys coming off ( contract).
“They were trying to get Morgo re- signed and Greeny sorting out his stuff.
“Hopefully, we can all get sorted.
“There are a lot of decisions they have to make.
“It’s not the fact that I don’t feel wanted … they’ve got to make some tough decisions.
“I’ve always felt part of this club and been a big part of this team.
“( I want to stay because of) the culture they’ve got here and support we’ve got, the town itself.
“I’ve started my family here. My wife and I love it up here.
“It’d be good to be part of the future. We’ll find out soon enough.”