CLIFFORD SNUBBED
Cowboys coach overlooks Tully gun for NRL season opener
TULLY star Jake Clifford has been overlooked by Cowboys coach Paul Green for Friday night’s historic NRL season opener against the Broncos.
The Cowboys will play their first-ever NRL game at their newly constructed home ground, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, but a disappointed Clifford won’t line up for North Queensland.
Green has named Scott Drinkwater at five-eighth to partner captain Michael Morgan in the halves, with Clifford to return to the Northern Pride for their Intrust Super Cup opener against Tweed Seagulls.
Pride coach Ty Williams, who spoke with the 21-year-old playmaker after the squads were finalised, said he believed Clifford would be determined to fight his way back into the Cowboys’ NRL team.
Clifford is one of five Cowboys-contracted players named in Williams’ squad, which will be captained by Javid Bowen, as the Pride look to fight their way into the finals for the first time since 2017.
THE pain of missing a historic clash at the new Queensland Country Bank Stadium will drive Jake Clifford to get back into the Cowboys’ NRL squad this upcoming season, according to Northern Pride coach Ty Williams.
For a second straight year, the Tully talent was overlooked as a starting half for the North Queensland Cowboys for their season opener.
Rather than line up against traditional rivals the Broncos in the first home game at the Cowboys’ new stadium on Friday night, Clifford will play for feeder club the Northern Pride against Tweed Seagulls at Piggabeen Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon.
Williams said he spoke to Clifford soon after the teams were finalised yesterday.
“He was down a little bit, just with the emotion of being the Broncos, the new stadium opening and he’s missed that opportunity,” he said.
“He was probably a bit down on that but by the time we finished our conversation moving forward, he was fairly upbeat.
“As I said there, those things he can’t control anymore, what he can control is coming back and playing really good football with us – and that goes for all my allocated players.
“They need to come back and perform to the best of their potential and then hopefully, through time, they get picked in the NRL system.”
Clifford is no stranger to the Pride, having donned the club’s teal-and-orange 22 times in the past two seasons as an allocated player.
Williams said the Intrust Super Cup side would welcome Clifford with open arms.
“He’s obviously a handy inclusion for us, but it’s probably not ideal for Jake,” he said.
“In saying that, his form’s been pretty solid through the trials, it’s just the decision the Cows have gone with.”
Clifford had been battling with Scott Drinkwater during the pre-season to see who would partner Cowboys’ skipper Michael Morgan in the halves to start the season.
Cowboys coach Paul Green revealed his 21-man squad for Round 1 yesterday, with Drinkwater named to start at five-eighth and Clifford on the extended bench.
Williams believed Clifford could force his way back into the Cowboys’ top squad if he continued to work hard.
“And that’s a job for me also, as a coach,” he said. “We’ll set him some clear goals, and I’m sure Greeny’s done that for him, but around what’s going to work for our team as well.
“The last thing we need is him to go down on Sunday and overplay his hand. He’s got to fit in with what we’ve been doing over the last four months, but he’s matured, he’s a year older and I think if he keeps working on what he’s been doing he’s not going to be far off.”