https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/nrl/cowboys/race-to-be-michael-morgans-halves-partner-to-heat-up-in-cairns/news-story/f733481e33abb84522d1c231a1754459 TIME is running out for Scott Drinkwater and Jake Clifford to prove why they deserve first crack at being Michael Morgan’s halves partner. With the opening round of the NRL season fast approaching, the battle for a spot alongside the Cowboys captain is about to get blistering. It will take centre stage of tomorrow’s trial against fierce rivals Brisbane Broncos in Cairns. The pair have been impressive in pre-season training at Cowboys HQ and both turned in star performances in the victorious Perth Nines campaign. Now they will line up side-by-side at Barlow Park in a duel that adds an exciting element to the contest according to assistant coach Josh Hannay.
While Hannay said the playmakers would be encouraged to run the football, ultimately an ability to control the tempo of the match and execute game plans would be what separates the vying duo. “I think it has been great for both their individual development as players, one another pushing each other, and at the moment it is a tightly run race,” Hannay said. “Drinky’s got some freakish natural talents there that can break a game open, but (for) anyone who wears the seven or six on their back in our football side, control is a really key thing to that. “The best teams in this competition have halves that can control a game of football so we really stress that point onto our sevens and sixes.” Hannay expects the clash with the Broncos to have “a little more intensity” than a typical trial game, such is the rivalry between the two sides. The match will give coach Paul Green an insight into other young players eager to make their mark, while the likes of Reece Robson and Reuben Cotter will get the chance to stake their claim to the No. 9 jersey. It will also be Green’s first chance to watch superstar recruit Valentine Holmes in action. According to Hannay it was Holmes who approached Green about taking on the Broncos. Although he is not expected to play more than 30 minutes, Hannay said the hit out would allow the 24-year-old to cast aside any rust that may be present before the season starts. “I think we were probably looking at keeping him fresh for the following week, but Val probably has itchy feet and wants to get on the park as quickly as he can,” Hannay said. “We’re fully aware of what Val brings to the table, from what we’ve seen there’s very little rust there. “He’s purring, and I think for him it’s going to be really good to get him on a rugby league field and play the game again.” The Cowboys-Broncos trial will kick off at 7pm in Cairns, with Queensland Cup feeder sides Townsville Blackhawks and Northern Pride playing off in a curtain raiser.
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AuthorThis section showcases a collection of some of the work I did covering the North Queensland Cowboys - from match reports, to player features to breaking news. Archives
June 2020
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