‘Doesn’t define us’: Cowboys plot bounce after shame
Joel Gould |
North Queensland coach Todd Payten subscribes to the view that the darkest hour is just before the dawn for his North Queensland side.
Darkness certainly enveloped the Cowboys last Thursday night when they were walloped 82-12 by Sydney Roosters in Townsville.
It was the most points a team had conceded in the premiership since Eastern Suburbs destroyed Canterbury 87-7 in 1935.
The Cowboys, just outside the top eight on for and against, are away to Gold Coast on Thursday night where redemption awaits.
“The game couldn’t have come around quicker for our lads. I said what I said about last week. It wasn’t nice but one game doesn’t dictate our season,” Payten said.
“The first 24 hours was about calming the staff down initially and then reassuring the players that exactly that … one game doesn’t define us.
“We’ve beaten three of the top four teams and Manly away, Broncos twice and Melbourne at full strength. It is all in front of us and the scenario doesn’t change moving forward. There’s an opportunity to play well.”
Payten and his men have confronted the justified criticism and they did it together.
“They move past things pretty quickly but there was absolute disappointment, a bit of embarrassment and shame … but so there should be,” he said.
“Everything that comes our way from a commentary point of view was well deserved. I asked our players and staff to turn up to the leagues club after the match. It was a late game but it is important that we front up together. We did that, we addressed it and now we move forward.
“I’ve been around long enough to know that nothing is ever going as good or bad as people think. I know what we are capable of.”
The Cowboys have shown multiple times this year what they are capable of by beating Penrith, Sydney Roosters and Cronulla but they must get their defence in order against the Titans.
“There is an opportunity to play finals and we are super keen to get out there and prove people wrong and go after the game,” Payten said.
“It is a game that is going to be won by getting over the advantage line. Both teams play very similar in that regard. For us, we have got to keep the front door shut.”
Payten confirmed the club would be without star second-rower Jeremiah Nanai for at least a fortnight after he “showed a great amount of resilience” to play through a hamstring injury last week that was undetected until after the match.
Highly rated forward Kai O’Donnell gets a start in Nanai’s place.
“He is a good line runner and a good defender. He has been waiting for the opportunity and has put a month together in Q Cup,” Payten said.
“Kai is super excited and created a bit of energy for the team this week which was great.”
AAP