http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21602785-5001023,00.html
NORTH Queensland believe they have addressed the issues that saw them spiral out of finals contention last season - and plan to prove it against Souths in Townsville tonight.
It will also be the club's first taste of Monday night football and officials will be keeping a keen eye on the gate, fearing regional ticket-holders may decide not to make the long return drive on a midweek night. Last season, after winning six straight to open their 2006 campaign, the Cowboys went on to lose eight of their next nine, with injuries and the impact of Origin eroding the team's confidence.
They suffered their first loss of 2007 in Auckland last weekend, but coach Graham Murray is confident the Cowboys have learned from last year's fade-out. "When you lose one I think it is important to respond to it, particularly at home," Murray said. "As a team we haven't talked about last year too much, but as a coaching staff we are very conscious of how we go about things and we have changed it up a bit in a number of areas. We gave the players an extra day off this week to prepare after a physical game in New Zealand, and I'd be disappointed if we don't give a good account of ourselves."
Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston and utility David Faiumu were both cleared yesterday to back up from Test duty.
Faiumu said long-term injuries to leading forwards Luke O'Donnell and Carl Webb could not be allowed to ruin the Cowboys campaign. "The Warriors really hammered us in the end last week and how we respond to that will really determine what sort of team we are," Faiumu said. "We all know that Carl Webb and Luke O'Donnell are going to be missing for an extended period, and it is up to the young guys to step up in their absence."
Cowboys centre Ash Graham passed a fitness test on his groin injury yesterday, while the Rabbitohs should also be unchanged with Kiwi forwards Roy Asotasi and David Fa'alogo both declared fit last night. The Rabbitohs travelled to Townsville without an 18th man, but may fly a player north this morning.
After back-to-back losses questions have been raised whether the Rabbitohs bubble has burst, but Murray said he had plenty of respect for the side. "They have some very classy players, and they were probably a bit unlucky to lose to Newcastle last week," Murray said. "Asotasi is one of the best props in the game, and I thought he and Fa'alogo were two of New Zealand's best players on Friday night."
NORTH Queensland believe they have addressed the issues that saw them spiral out of finals contention last season - and plan to prove it against Souths in Townsville tonight.
It will also be the club's first taste of Monday night football and officials will be keeping a keen eye on the gate, fearing regional ticket-holders may decide not to make the long return drive on a midweek night. Last season, after winning six straight to open their 2006 campaign, the Cowboys went on to lose eight of their next nine, with injuries and the impact of Origin eroding the team's confidence.
They suffered their first loss of 2007 in Auckland last weekend, but coach Graham Murray is confident the Cowboys have learned from last year's fade-out. "When you lose one I think it is important to respond to it, particularly at home," Murray said. "As a team we haven't talked about last year too much, but as a coaching staff we are very conscious of how we go about things and we have changed it up a bit in a number of areas. We gave the players an extra day off this week to prepare after a physical game in New Zealand, and I'd be disappointed if we don't give a good account of ourselves."
Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston and utility David Faiumu were both cleared yesterday to back up from Test duty.
Faiumu said long-term injuries to leading forwards Luke O'Donnell and Carl Webb could not be allowed to ruin the Cowboys campaign. "The Warriors really hammered us in the end last week and how we respond to that will really determine what sort of team we are," Faiumu said. "We all know that Carl Webb and Luke O'Donnell are going to be missing for an extended period, and it is up to the young guys to step up in their absence."
Cowboys centre Ash Graham passed a fitness test on his groin injury yesterday, while the Rabbitohs should also be unchanged with Kiwi forwards Roy Asotasi and David Fa'alogo both declared fit last night. The Rabbitohs travelled to Townsville without an 18th man, but may fly a player north this morning.
After back-to-back losses questions have been raised whether the Rabbitohs bubble has burst, but Murray said he had plenty of respect for the side. "They have some very classy players, and they were probably a bit unlucky to lose to Newcastle last week," Murray said. "Asotasi is one of the best props in the game, and I thought he and Fa'alogo were two of New Zealand's best players on Friday night."
