NRL ROUND 8 Green: Players need to bring out motivation
fit he would play, and that would be put to the test at training this week.
“We’ll see how he goes today (Tuesday), see how he goes Thursday and make a decision,” Green said.
“Any soft tissue injury like that they can either pull up or pull up worse, and if it’s worse it’s probably too early.”
Cowboys five-eighth
Scott Drinkwater said Holmes’ addition would have benefits, particularly as a half who had the luxury of an off-season working with the marquee recruit.
But he said Tabuai-fidow had done enough to justify his place in first-grade and would continue to impress should he retain the No.1 jersey.
“Val has his strengths, he’s a lot more experienced and a lot more confident. It does help when he’s out there, but Hamiso has been unreal for us the past couple of weeks,” Drinkwater said.
“It would be good if Val does come back … He’s been a lot of help out the back there with fast play.
“It’ll be a big boost if he’s back but if not I’m confident Hamiso will do a good job.”
COWBOYS coach Paul Green has said it is up to the players to harness what motivated their promising performance last week in order to put in a committed effort against Parramatta.
Prior to their win over Newcastle on Saturday, the North Queensland side had been criticised for their inconsistency. However, they rediscovered their mojo in a first-half attacking masterclass.
While silencing the external noise seemingly fuelled part of the players’ desire, Green said they could not rely on that.
The motivation to perform had to come internally and it was up to each player to find out what that took.
“If you wait for either someone to criticise you or a bad press article before you give your best effort and play well, for all of us for that matter as a team and club, you’re going to have an inconsistent year,” Green said.
“It’s not the way to prepare. Whatever motivated players individually to prepare really well last week … they’ve got to find that right preparation for themselves, the right routine and find that motivation to not want to ever have that said about us again as a club.”
The Cowboys have named an unchanged 17 for the time being. However, that may be subject to change with the likes of Valentine Holmes and Jake Granville named on an extended bench.
Tom Opacic has been retrained at left centre after his brilliant display against the Knights, with veteran Justin O’neill named on the wing.
That was the beauty of someone like O’neill, Green said – his versatility provided plenty of options at the selection table.
With the likes of Eels Maika Sivo and Waqa Blake in damaging form with ball in hand, and a monster Parramatta forward pack waiting for the Cowboys, Green said defence would be the priority at training and the week would entail determining what the best combinations were to thwart the rampant ladder leaders.
As for Opacic, Green said given the circumstances of the season due to the coronavirus pandemic, his work ethic and subsequent performance was a great example for any young rugby league player to follow.
“Tom hasn’t been in our team all year and was very low maintenance through the whole period,” he said.
“He put his head down, worked hard, never complained, got his opportunity and made the most of it.
“It’s a great example for young guys about how to cope with being a professional footballer — he’s certainly given me every reason to keep him there.”
Jason Taumalolo has retained the captaincy for Friday’s match even with Jordan Mclean back in the side.
But Green said the roles of the pair would not change.