OUR UNSUNG HERO

HIS resume is interlaced with everything about North Queensland footy, and Innisfail prop Scott Bolton says that’s why the Cowboys’ second grand final appearance means so much to him.

The 28-year-old will join fellow Leprechauns junior Ty Williams in seventh on the club’s all-time games list (151) in Sunday’s NRL grand final against the Broncos.

It’s a neat slice of history for an unheralded big man who personifies what the Cowboys are all about.

Bolton attended Innisfail High, learned his trade at Callendar Park and progressed to an Intrust Super Cup title with the North Queensland Young Guns – alongside Matt Scott and Gavin Cooper – in 2005.

Junior state and national honours all arrived along the way, as did 28 caps for the Northern Pride — but Sunday is what this journey is all about.

“It’s been a long time at the club,” Bolton said.

“Me being a local, everything in the community means a lot to me.

“Johnno (Thurston) has spoken about getting the first premiership up there but we’ve still got a lot of work to do.

“It means a lot to everyone in the team.

“We put the work in pre-season and all year round.

“You invest a lot in this and that’s why it means so much.”

Bolton has played an unsung role in the Cowboys’ quest for a maiden title.

While Matt Scott and Test teammate James Tamou have hogged headlines, they say any NRL pack is only as good as their bench.

“We play our best footy on the back of our goforward and Matty Scott and Jimmy have been instrumental in doing that from the start,” Bolton said.

“It’s quite easy to roll when you’re coming on after 20 minutes and those boys have been punching holes.

“When they lay a great platform it makes our job on the bench a lot easier.”

Having celebrated his 150th match last start and his new contract, Bolton is hoping for even bigger prizes at ANZ Stadium.

“It’s been a big week and a good week — hopefully next week is even better,” he said.