Cowboys coach Neil Henry is remaining calm despite having only weeks to prove he should keep the job

WE go behind the scenes with Cowboys coach Neil Henry ahead of a must-win clash against the Broncos in Townsville tonight. 

Matt Bowen

FOR someone supposedly a dead-man walking in Townsville, Neil Henry is alive and well ... and surprisingly relaxed about the maelstrom swirling around him at the Cowboys.

Henry has been at the coalface of NRL coaching long enough to accept the caper can be as lucrative as it is cut-throat. To many, he has seven games to save his job at North Queensland. The prevailing sentiment is _ miss the finals and Henry can join the unemployment queue.

He has heard the slew of candidates set to replace him. One minute, it's Trent Barrett. The next, Brad Arthur. Or maybe Nathan Brown. And, heck, don't forget his assistant Terry Matterson.

It seems someone, anyone, is being lined up to replace Henry if the wheels fall off completely and North Queensland become finals spectators in a season in which they were widely tipped to make the grand final.

But spend an hour in the Cowboys' nerve centre and it is evident Henry hasn't lost his nerve. At 52, he sits calmly in his office in Asics runners and club polo, fit beyond his years, looking as if he just stepped up out of the Cowboys gym. As he holds a water bottle, just a metre away lay a small laminated note pinned to a noticeboard in his office.

It is Neil Henry's pledge to the Cowboys for season 2013. A vow to do everything possible to bring success to the club. And while he is the first to accept North Queensland, floundering in 13th, are not meeting performance benchmarks, he isn't giving up on their season or his own tenure at the club.

"It's a massive game," he says ahead of tonight's showdown with the Broncos in Townsville.

"The derby games always are, but in the context of where both teams are, this one takes on added importance because really both teams need to win six of seven games to be a chance to make the eight.

"Despite the year we've had, it's not a burden to come to work, that is for sure.

"Look, I hope I am here next year. But I haven't got time to worry about that. How we play now, in the post-Origin period, is crucial.

"We have an opportunity to wins some games and gain some momentum, I know that the playing group and coaches have not lost the desire to succeed and we are determined to push towards the top eight in the coming weeks."

"I still have faith in my ability to coach, my rapport with the players is good and I have some great leadership players.

"If people see a side committed and buying into what the coach is saying over the next seven weeks, there is a difference there."

Henry admits he would be heavy-hearted if the Cowboys board rescind his contract for next season.

The landscape change has been swift, dramatic and almost imperceptible. In March, the former Canberra mentor was handed a 12-month extension for the 2014 season. The board seemed happy enough. Eight weeks later, Henry awoke to read he had just two games to save his job.

That report proved baseless, but the dogs were seemingly barking. Henry says the Cowboys board have been transparent and provided no indication they are scouring for his successor. But he is also pragmatic enough to accept that there will be a concerted push for reform if North Queensland drop out of the finals race in the coming weeks.

"It remains to be seen whether I am a part of it next year," he says with a wry grin.

"I would be disappointed if I'm not here next year. Even though the season doesn't reflect what we have done here work wise, we have made the finals for the last two seasons and there has been significant change in the club culture. I think the club has come forward and there are improvements to be had in a range of areas.

"I'd be disappointed for my staff as well because they have been a significant part of the development of this club in raising standards; if the coach goes it affects a few other livelihoods.

"The board have been up front and honest with me. I'm sure I would know if they were canvassing other coaches. If they were going to look at other coaches, I'm sure they would tap me on the shoulder, but that hasn't happened yet.

"I know several coaches. For example, I know Brad Arthur, if he was approached by this club, he would pick up the phone and tell me. Coaches live in the same world, there is a mutual respect among coaches in a way because you are all in the same boat.

"When people tell you you aren't doing a good job it's only a matter of time before it gets you down. But I've had a lot of support so that's what keeps you going too.

"I'm a realist. If you aren't getting results, clubs will look for change. Hopefully they stick by me and we get on with the season and we'll see where it takes us."

On paper, the Cowboys appeared to have the makings of a top-four outfit this season. But a more forensic assessment paints a picture of a team that has struggled for continuity in pivotal positions.

North Queensland's 'spine' _ the fusion of talent at fullback, five-eighth, halfback and hooker _ has lacked backbone.

Matt Bowen, so crucial with his brilliance at fullback, has been off the pace with his injury woes. Halves Michael Morgan and Robert Lui have struggled to provide a playmaking foil for champion pivot Johnathan Thurston. And at hooker, the twin departures of Aaron Payne (retirement) and understudy James Segeyaro (Penrith) have been felt enormously.

"We haven't had the spine there consistently playing good footy and that has affected the other players as well," Henry says.

"It has been one of those years where we haven't had continuity in key positions. Some of our forwards have been very consistent and we don't have a problem rolling up the field, but it's how we get over the tryline that is a real problem for us.

"That is the difference between the top teams and the bottom. The best teams are able to rectify their areas pretty quickly they were deficient in and go again. In the back of their head, they expect to win the game. Other sides who are inconsistent hope to win. You can't be hoping and relying.

"There is no doubt we should be higher than we are. We should be up around eighth, we should have had another three wins and that is where we should be.

"To say we should be sitting in second or third is not realistic given we haven't excelled or had consistency in those key positions."

The next eight days could make or break the Cowboys. After tonight's clash against the Broncos, they host premiership pacesetters the Rabbitohs.

If they lose both, North Queensland's season is toast ... and the board will face an agonising call on Henry.

"We won't make the finals from here unless everyone plays their role," Henry said.

"It's not about 'JT' (Thurston) coming out and winning seven games for us. We have faith in the squad but for our squad to be pushing for the semis and winning the competition, we all need to play well, be healthy and be settled in key positions.

"We are trying to salvage what we can out of the season ... I will know a lot more in the coming weeks.”