OFF TO MARKET
ALL OPTIONS CONSIDERED TO REPLACE BEN BARBA
GOING to the open market to replaced sacked fullback Ben Barba is a real option for the North Queensland Cowboys. Coach Paul Green admitted the club was testing the waters externally but would do what was “best for the team”. The coach’s preference is not to move Michael Morgan back to the position.
NORTH Queensland coach Paul Green has said the club will consider going to the open market for a replacement fullback for Ben Barba.
Green yesterday all but ruled out moving expected half Michael Morgan back to the No.1 jersey, which leaves the door open for fellow Cowboys Ben Hampton and Te Maire Martin.
However, the Cowboys admitted they were also testing the waters externally. The club was linked with Rabbitohs flyer Alex Johnston before South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett shut down those rumours earlier this month, and are also monitoring the success of Valentine Holmes in the NFL.
Parramatta gun Bevan French could also emerge as another potential target, following speculation around his future with the Eels.
Green said whatever decision was made, it had to be in the team’s best interests.
“My preference is for Morgo not to go back there at this stage but again at some point that might not be the case,” he said. “My preference is not to start the season like that.
“We’re just having a look at all the (replacement) options so we want to make sure, whichever way we go, it’s the right thing for us.
“It’s not an easy position to play. I think if we did go internally, particularly with a guy who hasn’t played a lot of fullback, it would be a case of giving him some time there.”
Green fronted up to the media in Townsville yesterday for the first time since Barba was sacked on February 1 after allegedly assaulting his partner on the Australia Day weekend.
He admitted the club had been left disappointed and he was confident everything had been checked before signing him last year.
“It was really disappointing,” he said. “Disappointing for the club and disappointing for Ben.
“We did everything we could (to check for any warning signs) with the information available to us.”
It comes as the Cowboys returned to regular training at 1300 Smiles Stadium for the first time since flooding inundated the region last week.
The squad was back into full contact training after a two-week hiatus, which limited them to just weights and ball work.
Green said there was a lot to catch up on in the lead-up to their first trial match on February 23 against the Gold Coast Titans on the Sunshine Coast.
“Given the last couple of weeks we’ve had, it’s been fairly disrupted,” he said.
“We pretty much lost two weeks out of our preseason, which was a long time.
“Full credit to the boys, I think they handled it pretty well.
“We’ve got a bit of work to catch up, so how this two-week period looked before the rain probably will look a little bit differently, and we have to consider the team for our first trial match.”