Eels face hot reception
INAUGURAL Cowboys captain Laurie Spina let out a chuckle when he read Parramatta playmaker Dylan Brown “hates” the heat.
Because North Queensland is ready to turn the dial all the way up ahead of a historic preliminary final in Townsville.
Spina says all Parramatta’s flaws that were laid bare by the Cowboys in a 35-4 Darwin rout this year could be exposed once again in near-30C heat if the Eels are not careful.
“We all saw what Parra did the other night (thumping Canberra), that was one of the best club games I’ve seen this year, but when you have a look at Parra’s record when they travel north – Darwin earlier this year for example – well let’s just say it’s going to be nice and warm for them,” the Cowboys great said.
“Dylan Brown said the other day he hates the heat and when I read that I thought, ‘oh no, you won’t like it here’.”
North Queensland has never hosted an NRL prelim and the hottest ticket in town will be among the diehard faithful at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Friday.
The Cowboys have not reached this stage of the season since 2017 and Spina said the state’s parochial north was a different place when its team was up and about.
“How many kilometres people will travel sometimes just to go to normal club games (is crazy). People will sit in the car for six hours just to go to a club game. There’s really passionate supporters up here,” Spina said. “Outside of Townsville … places like Cairns, some travel from Mackay, the Burdekin, Ingham … it’s a big area and the country people up here are really good people and they make sure the vibe is pumping.
“The community is really behind them and North Queensland is abuzz.”
Spina said the onus was on the Cowboys to keep the Eels bogged down early and then let the Townsville crowd lift them through to the end – just as the Parramatta fans did for their team against the Raiders.
“It’s really important (the Cowboys) start well and the further the game goes, with the temperature and the crowd, if it’s close at the end then the Cowboys can do it,” he said.
Spina has marvelled at North Queensland’s turnaround under Todd Payten in 2022, moving from 15th only a year ago to be on the cusp of a grand final.
“A lot of experts tipped them to be wooden spooners. I don’t think we’ve ever seen a turnaround like it really – I can’t in my memory,” he said.
“The key has been the defence. Last year I called it a paper-thin defence – every time a team got near the try line they were scoring – but if your defence is in order, the attack will come, and all year their goal line defence has been solid.”