FIGHTING SPIRIT

GRANVILLE PUTS PERSONAL HARDSHIP ASIDE FOR SEASON OPENER

JAKE Granville is still unable to return to his home in the wake of Townsville’s devastating floods, but the Cowboys hooker has his mind firmly on tomorrow night’s NRL season opener against the Dragons at 1300SMILES Stadium.

JAKE Granville knows firsthand the devastating impact of the Townsville floods with the Cowboys hooker still unable to return to his home as he turns his attention towards the Dragons tomorrow night.

Granville was among several Cowboys players and staff who had to be evacuated.

“I’m out of my house at the moment, but I’ve just found the community’s worked really well together,” Granville said.

“Even the boys here at training, they pitched in a cou- ple of days to help me out. It was a massive effort.

“Eventually we’ll sort it out with insurance and stuff.

“The coaching staff and the staff in general here were really aware of the situation and the boys banded to help each other out and the community.

“It brought us in closer together and helped us through that period and we’ve trained really well off the back of it which I think might have helped us a bit in a way.”

Granville says North Queensland’s 2019 pack might become the best he has played alongside, but they need to aim up from the start in their season opener against a rugged Dragons outfit.

Compared to the 2015 Cowboys pack, which included Test prop James Tamou, this rotation has two international middle forwards, Josh Mcguire and Jordan Mclean, in their first and second season, plus Scott Bolton to come back from suspension next month.

“On paper it looks that way but we haven’t started playing yet and have to put it in practice in games,’’ Granville said.

“I am pretty blessed to have such good players around. There are some big fellas in the middle and I’m sure they will generate some ruck speed.

“We are looking to hit the ground running. The Dragons are a tough opposition and we have to be at our best. We have to get our defence right first.’’

Cowboys coach Paul Green said he was not inclined to play Mcguire as a dummy-half, as he did during an injury emergency at the Broncos, and Granville said he was willing to play as many minutes as required.

Granville, starting his fifth season as the Cowboys dummy-half, is part of a new spine in his first campaign without the retired Johnathan Thurston.

“It’s a bit different because JT’S not there. Morgo is leading us around the park,’’ Granville said.

“A key to that is communicating with each other. He’s embraced it and he is controlling the team really well.”

Granville played at the Broncos in 2014 with Mcguire, and also alongside Jordan Kahu at Wynnum.

“I played a couple of games at the Broncos and I found he’s a real competitor – he still is, you can see it at training,’’ Granville said.