KAYO Defence the key: Green

OR STREAM ON

IF the Cowboys are to turn their fortunes around, Paul Green says there are plenty of threats on the other side of the field to neutralise.

Following back-to-back losses, the North Queensland coach has been left tearing his hair out over defensive lapses on the last tackle of a set.

It has been a bane of the Cowboys’ existence with three tries coming from kicks in their loss to the Sharks a fortnight ago and another five on the final tackle against New Zealand in Gosford last week.

That lack of resilience cannot happen tonight against a valiant Tigers – a team that showed plenty of grit in their last-round loss to the Raiders.

“They’ve definitely got some threats we have to handle. (David) Nofoaluma has been in great touch, (Joey) Leilua is a good player, and I think Harry Grant has been good for them,” Green said.

“They’ve got plenty of good players, Josh Reynolds brings plenty of energy, we know we’ll have to play well to give ourselves a chance.

“Every game (the Tigers) play is a chance for them to show what they’re made of and also what we’re made of as a team so it’s more important we focus on us.”

While he has worked his players overtime on their last tackle defence in training this week, Green admitted there was more to it.

“It’s not just resilience there’s a bit of practice, understanding technical things, but at the end of the day it’s just everyone doing whatever they can to help each other,” he said. “You need to chip in for each other and not let your teammates down.

“When you have a performance (like against the Warriors), you might be a little disappointed and next week can’t come quick enough, we get a chance to make amends.”

With Connelly Lemuelu set to be the third Cowboys’ debutant in as many weeks, Green said there was a buzz of excitement as the team received a fresh injection of youth.

Aside from the NRL, rugby league has been grounded amid the coronavirus pandemic and he said being able to award young guns with a firstgrade appearance was justification that efforts off the field went a long way in the eyes of the coaching staff.

“I think it shows it’s picked on performance and whoever is training well and doing what they’re asked you’re in the picture,” Green said.

“At the moment it’s a difficult situation without having Intrust Super Cup being played so it’s all you have to go on. For them personally it’s a big moment and their teammates try to do their best to make it memorable for them.

“It keeps them engaged and hopefully they train harder and they realise they’re a chance of playing.”