Green wins backing of Cowboys

COWBOYS chief executive Jeff Reibel has vehemently denied coach Paul Green’s tenure is under threat this year following a run of poor form since the NRL season’s restart.

The 2020 campaign for the North Queensland outfit was met with fanfare after the marquee signing of Valentine Holmes, along with those of New Zealand international Esan Marsters and rookie hooker Reece Robson.

But although the Cowboys hit the ground running postCOVID with a 36-6 win against Gold Coast, deplorable losses to the Sharks, Warriors and Tigers have ignited the pressure on Green.

However Reibel yesterday said the onus is not solely on the coach – who delivered the club its first premiership in 2015, as well as two Nines titles.

“All you have to do is look at our comments over the last few days, Paul Green’s coach, he will be a coach,” Reibel said.

“Now is not a time to look at any one individual.

“Now it’s time to take ownership as a club and work together with getting the results that we know that we can achieve and that’s something that’s very important to us … now’s the time for working together.”

Reibel’s backing came after veteran Cowboy Josh McGuire took aim at the team on Monday, saying it was “irresponsible” to blame anyone other than the playing group for their woes on the field.

While the 30-year-old did not mince his words, it was a stance fully supported by Reibel, who said it was what was needed from the group.

“That just shows leadership and it just reinforces our position about working together and supporting each other ... and we as a club take that ownership together,” Reibel said.