Packs on the hunt for ultimate prize
FRIDAY night’s derby between state rivals Gold Coast and North Queensland is shaping as an early Origin audition for the Maroons forward pack.
Titans duo Jarrod Wallace and Jai Arrow are pushing for an Origin call-up this year following a strong start to the season.
Wallace yesterday made his intentions clear, saying he hoped to get back into Origin contention as he sought to make amends for a two-week suspension.
Arrow and Wallace will come up against Cowboys’ Queensland representative stars Matt Scott, Josh McGuire, Gavin Cooper and Coen Hess.
But North Queensland’s hard men were adamant their focus was solely on winning Friday’s match.
Cooper said the Origin hopefuls could not afford to think about playing representative football because it could lead to further losses for the Cowboys.
“If we’d won five out of the past seven games, we might start thinking about it (Origin),” he said. “This is the tough spot that we’re in.
“If we start thinking about (trying to make the Origin side), we’ll be two (wins) in ten (games) in no time.
“For me, if we turn around what we’re doing, we might be a chance but there’s a lot of water going under the bridge before then.”
The Cowboys and Titans both sit on equal points on the NRL ladder, with the Gold Coast ahead on points differential.
The 2-5 win-loss record to start the season has been disappointing for both sides.
Cowboys forward Josh McGuire reiterated Cooper’s comments, saying the main aim on Friday night was finding a win for the Cowboys.
“We just need to play good footy and Origin will take care of itself,” he said.
“I’m just doing my job. “I’m playing a lot of minutes and taking the ball forward to lay a good platform for our halves.”
WE JUST NEED TO PLAY GOOD FOOTY AND ORIGIN WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF THE COWBOYS’ JOSH MCGUIRE