Coach keeps mum on any team shake- up but admits need to improve Green ponders change
IF COWBOYS coach Paul Green is planning a few selection surprises for the Rabbitohs on Saturday night then he’s certainly not giving anything away.
Green has surprisingly stuck with the same 17 from last weekend’s road loss to the Tigers, but he has left himself with some wiggle room by naming rising stars Francis Molo, Jake Clifford, Javid Bowen and Enari Tuala in the extended squad. Form has been an issue for the Cowboys with just three wins after 10 rounds – their worst start to a season since 2010 – while they also have some injury concerns ahead of the Souths clash.
Matt Scott and Jason Taumalolo didn’t train yesterday but they are expected to play, however Ben Hampton ( ankle) and Shaun Fensom ( elbow) still need to prove their fitness.
That could open the door for the likes of Tuala and Molo to come into the NRL side, but Green would only offer a cheeky insight as to his plans for the team this weekend.
“Once we get a full training session in with everyone it’ll be a bit clearer, but the 17 will certainly be out of the 21 that I’ve named,” he said. “You’ve got to make sure that any changes you make are going to make the team better – that’s probably the most important thing.
“You don’t change for change’s sake, but by the same token you can’t just keep rolling out the same 17 and expect something different.
“Something’s got to change, whether it’s attitude or execution from the players, or otherwise then I’ve probably got to make the change myself then.”
Loyalty has been a hallmark of Green’s tenure at the Cowboys and they have used just 20 players so far this season, but time is fast running out to turn their fortunes around.
Gun centre Tuala is crying out for a Cowboys call- up after scoring a hat- trick in the Northern Pride’s 26- 24 win over Redcliffe last weekend and Green felt that “youthful exuberance” would be a nice boost if he decides to shake up the team.
“He proved he can score a try on the weekend which is something we need,” Green said. “One thing about Enari is whatever level he plays at he rises to the occasion, which is a good sign. He doesn’t get too overawed.
“Given we need to get a bit of a change of fortune, sometimes you’re forced to do that by picking some different players. A bit of youthful exuberance could be the way to go.”
The Cowboys have little room for error, needing to win at least nine of their remaining 14 games to play finals, but Green insisted they were keeping their focus on the short term.
“You can’t think like that, otherwise you do start to put pressure on yourself which you can’t control,” he said. “To say we can only lose five more games, it’s just the wrong mindset to have, so all we can worry about is next week and that’s the way we’re looking at it.