North Queensland Cowboys squad to stand trial in Brisbane Broncos clash
“I’m sure he’s watching a little bit … it kind of is a bit of a trial game coming into the pre-season with him.”
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SCOTT Drinkwater is on trial.
That is the mindset the young five-eighth is going into the Cowboys final match of the season with, in the hopes of showing the incoming Todd Payten one last time that he is the club’s long-term no. 6.
While it has been a difficult year for North Queensland on the paddock, the rise of several young guns has raised hopes that a change of leadership could spark a new era of dominance.
Several established stars have left the squad in recent seasons, but in Drinkwater, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tom Gilbert and Mitch Dunn there is a nucleus of up and comers who just need to the fine-tunings on what it takes to succeed in the NRL week to week.
With the ball in hand, Drinkwater has, at times, been electric, sitting fifth in the competition for try assists with 16.
However he ranks second in the season for errors with 30, and his 54 missed tackles has him tenth in the NRL.
Payten may not start at the club until November 1, but Drinkwater concedes the local derby against the Brisbane Broncos could be his last chance to impress after a year plagued by inconsistency.
“It’s kind of a trial for everyone who wants to play on next year at this club. He’s got his team, but I’m sure he’s watching a little bit … it kind of is a bit of a trial game coming into the pre-season with him,” Drinkwater said.
“We probably won’t get that long of a pre-season this year due to the time, so this final game is pretty important.
“It’s been up and down, a bit of inconsistency – I’ve played some good games, some bad games. I’ve been able to do a few good things but also had a few shockers.
“It comes with experience, being able to be more consistent week in, week out so overall it’s kind of disappointing.”
Thursday’s clash with the Broncos will farewell a pair of stalwarts in Gavin Cooper and Darius Boyd — each with premiership rings and several State of Origin appearances.
Both have been fine servants of rugby league, however a Cowboys win would ultimately send Boyd out of the game with a wooden spoon to his name.
A loss would put Brisbane on equal points with the North Queensland outfit, however it would take an 87 point defeat to overtake the Townsville-based club.
Drinkwater is dreaming of a return to the Central Coast surf once the curtain is called on their season, although he is unsure how much longer he and his team will have to remain in the COVID bubble before being able to travel.
However the desire to send Cooper out a victor has kept his eyes firmly planted on the upcoming bout.
“Coops and Darius have been good servants for their clubs, also they’re playing not to get a wooden spoon too so they’ll be coming out firing,” Drinkwater said.
“We’ve got to be expecting a pretty brutal Broncos team, which they always are when they come up against us.
“It will be an odd one with no Queensland teams in the finals, it wasn’t that long ago these two teams were playing in the GF.
“It will be a bit strange, but one more game to put in a good performance for the respective jerseys we’re wearing.
“We have a lot of people to not let down this game, so it’s a good derby and I know everyone’s looking forward to it.”
Originally published as North Queensland Cowboys squad to stand trial in Brisbane Broncos clash