Cowboys feel no knockout pressure

THIS time, it’s personal.

North Queensland skipper Gavin Cooper admits today’s NRL elimination final against defending premiers Cronulla should be billed as a grudge match.

Cooper said the Cowboys were feeling no pressure after being written off by experts since relying on other results to scrape into the top eight.

But the Queensland Origin back-rower said they would not be short of motivation against their finals nemesis the Sharks at Allianz Stadium.

It will mark the fourth meeting between the two rivals in a sudden-death final.

Cooper hinted that there would be some extra feeling in their knockout clash after Cronulla ended North Queensland’s title defence with a dominant 32-20 win last year.

“It’s been built up as a bit of a grudge match which I am not too unhappy about,” he said.

“We are here now, do or die footy here we come.”

Cowboys assistant coach Todd Payten also did not try to play down their rivalry.

“There’s a history between us after the last couple of years in the semi-finals. There’s a bit of feeling there, no doubt,” he said.

North Queensland have been hit by an injury list that ballooned to 12 just three weeks ago, including season casualties Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott.

Fullback Lachlan Coote (ankle), winger Antonio Winterstein (hamstring) and playmaker Te Maire Martin (knee) had to be monitored at training before being cleared to play against the Sharks.

“We’ve got nothing to lose. I don’t think anyone gives us much of a chance, which is a good way to go into a finals series,” Payten said.

All the action from last night’s NRL Finals >> P53