COWBOYS FIGHT FOR RETURN TO STADIUM
QUEENSLAND Country Bank Stadium has joined the fight to host the first two rounds of the NRL restart.
Cowboys coach Paul Green welcomed the announcement of the rescheduled draw, which was released yesterday.
The Cowboys will restart the season with an all-queensland clash against the Titans on May 29, before Valentine Holmes goes head-to-head with former club Cronulla Sharks the following Saturday.
North Queensland has been named the home side for both clashes, but the NRL has not confirmed what venues the matches will be played in.
While he reinforced the club’s stance that they will do whatever it takes to get the game on the field, Green reiterated that the club’s first preference was to play at their new $293.5 million stadium.
“Having a bit of certainty just allows everyone to get their head around what we’re doing,” Green said.
“For a long time there was so much unknown and questions people couldn’t answer … which people generally don’t deal with very well.
“(Not playing at home) would be disappointing, we’d obviously be keen given we have a new stadium here.”
The surface at QCB Stadium is primed for a return to rugby league with groundsman Bruce Fouracre working full time on regular maintenance despite the COVID-19 shutdown.
“Queensland Country Bank Stadium is available for both the round three and four clashes and staff are eagerly awaiting the return of football,” a stadium spokesperson said.
“Queensland Country Bank Stadium is working closely with the NRL to get the North Queensland Cowboys back on field as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.
“The field is in fantastic shape and we look forward to showing off our new venue to the NRL audience nationwide.”
It will be a very different competition the Cowboys are re-entering, one Green said could not be compared to past campaigns.
Rule changes around ruck infringements and a reversion back to one referee will take some adjusting to, as will the shortened 20-round format.
Green said they would not know how the game would be affected until games were played within those conditions. He said the club would have to approach the season differently.