Esan Marsters: ’We’re all fighting for our spot next year’

Cowboys centre Esan Marsters admits Todd Payten’s search for am outside back has him and his teammates on notice. But that is exactly what he said was needed.

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Esan Marsters admits Todd Payten’s search for an outside back is a sign he and his fellow men out wide are on notice.

But for the Cowboys centre, that is exactly what the club and the players need to return them to premiership contention — everyone in a fight for their position.

The new North Queensland coach has one spot to fill on his roster, and has identified the need for a dynamic back to fill the void and add some spark to the three-quarter line.

At his best, Marsters fits that bill; a tackle-busting centre who launched himself into the New Zealand international side while at Wests Tigers.

However 2020 was a difficult year upon his move to Townsville, even finding himself axed by interim coach Josh Hannay after the round 10 loss to Penrith, and he did not return until the round 17 golden point win over the Dragons.

As he seeks to return to top form, Marsters said the competition for spots was what the Cowboys needed: a constant reminder that only form, not reputation, will solidify their place.

Esan Marsters admits the search for an outside back has him and his teammates on notice, but it is what is needed to return the Cowboys to title contention. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Even at just 24, he said establishing himself as a leader among the group — one which features emerging young guns in Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Murray Taulagi and Daejarn Asi — was step one in ensuring he figures in Payten’s 2021 plans.

“It’s one of the things I’m trying to work on this year, being more of leader to the younger guys,” Marsters said.

“We’ve got a lot of talent and good players around the park and I think leadership is done with your actions.

“There’s always going to be challenges, whether it’s getting a new back, but having backs in your team it’s always going to be a challenge between all of us.

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“We’ve got a lot of quality and we’re all fighting for our spot next year. I have to go out and do my job for the team, and I think if I can be fitter in the off-season hopefully that stuff works in the end.”

On paper, Marsters’ backline teammates are star studded: international and State of Origin experience coming from himself, Justin O’Neill, Valentine Holmes and Kyle Feldt.

The Kiwi star’s efforts with ball in hand was not so much the issue, averaging 122 running metres and two tackle busts a game.

NRL; North Queensland Cowboys training at 1300 Smiles Stadium. Esan Marsters and Corey Jensen . Picture: Alix Sweeney

However his 28 missed tackles from 12 matches proved decisive at times, often those mistakes occurring in the Cowboys’ red zone and leaking points.

While missing out on selection for chunks of the season was a bitter pill for Marsters to swallow, he sought inspiration from the debutants of 2020.

With the Intrust Super Cup cancelled after round one due to the coronavirus pandemic, the likes of Tom Gilbert, Ben Condon, Asi and Tabuai-Fidow had no source of football to go back to and prove they deserved first-grade selection.

Instead, all they could do was knuckle down and speak with their work ethic on the training paddock, and Marsters said witnessing that was an important lesson he took away in an otherwise lacklustre campaign.

Cowboys outside backs Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Valentine Holmes and Esan Marsters. Picture: Alix Sweeney

“I’m always trying to learn new things and I kind of lost that in the back end of the season when I wasn’t paying — I felt like I did a lot more in the off-season before I got to play,” Marsters said.

“I’m still learning the game, especially with the game changing now it’s a lot faster. I think getting myself in good shape will help, I’ve come off ankle surgery last year and then had to catch up to a lot of boys in the off season

“But I think this year I’ve learnt about myself; as a player it was tough not playing, but in saying that a lot of the boys weren’t playing because of COVID and they earned their chances to play in the jersey.

“For me I’m just trying to earn that spot and the most important thing is keeping that spot.”

Originally published as Esan Marsters: ’We’re all fighting for our spot next year’