Inside story: How Kyle Feldt won his Cowboys wing

Todd Payten has revealed the secret pre-season assessment his coaching staff conducted to determine whether 2015 grand final hero Kyle Feldt could snatch back his starting position.

Kyle Feldt won a pre-season contest to secure his start for Round 1. Picture: Getty Images

Cowboys coaches kept track of every try scored and conceded by Kyle Feldt and Semi Valemei during pre-season drills before opting to restore North Queensland’s 2015 grand final hero Feldt to the right wing for Sunday’s season opener.

Coach Todd Payten revealed a pre-season contest between Feldt and Valemei had been the decisive selection factor.

Cowboys coaches kept score of Feldt and Valemei’s attack and defence in different scenarios and the 32-year-old fan favourite came out ahead in each metric.

“Feldty with his experience, he’s had a good tussle with Semi Valemei throughout this pre-season period,” Payten said.

Kyle Feldt of the Cowboys. Getty Images

“We’ve tallied up tries in our left-feed-right scenarios, in our 13v13 scenarios, and Feldty has got his nose in front there in terms of tries conceded and tries scored.

“Zaccy Laybutt probably started a little bit slow. He missed a couple of weeks, being away with some representative stuff, got himself fit, adjusted accordingly with some of our edge D(efence) and decision making and patience there on the edge, and he’s made every post a winner since Christmas.

“So they’re our right edge and they’ve built up a good combination over the past few weeks.”

SuperCoach ‘cheapie’ Thomas Mikaele appeared to have secured a place on the interchange after starring in North Queensland’s pre-season triumph over the Raiders, but was a surprise exclusion for round 1.

Thomas Mikaele was “unlucky” to miss out in Round 1. Picture: Getty Images

Instead, Payten elected to go with Jake Granville, Griffin Neame, Sam McIntyre and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.

“Semi Valemei and Tom Mikaele were really unlucky. The reason, more than anything, that Tommy’s not on the bench is just that we’ve gone for a bit of mobility,” Payten explained.

“We’ve got some big bodies to start the game, and then Griff (Neame) will add to that and then we’re just looking for a bit more speed, a bit more leg speed through the middle.

“Tommy, I spoke to him through the week. Expressed that to him. Said he’s really close and obviously he’s going to be next cab off the rank through the middle.

“That might happen quick for him, he’s going to play some first grade for us this year. He’s really impressive since he’s been in the club, and he’s just got to keep his head down and bum up and train well.

NQ Cowboys training at Cowboys HQ at the Hutchinson Builders Centre. Heilum Luki. Picture: Evan Morgan

“The same kind of message went to Semi Valemei. Competition for spots is great, it keeps everyone on their toes.”

Barnstorming Cairns product Heilum Luki will likely play 80 minutes, moving to the middle of the field when Finefeuiaki enters the fray.

Payten explained how he would use his bench if injuries don’t throw a spanne rin the works.

“Reubs (Cotter) will play some longer minutes through the middle, and then the other guys around him, we’ll make some calls about how they’re moving and how they’re tackling throughout the game,” Payten said.

“We’ve got Sammy McIntyre, who’s a middle forward and will play through the middle. We’ve got Jake (Granville) who gives us some flexibility to play through the middle and at hooker.

“And then Kulikefu Finefeuiaki will come off the bench, if things go to plan, more than likely in the second half in the backrow – which could potentially put Heilum (Luki) through the middle again to finish the game.

“So without giving it all away, I’ve just given it all away.”

The Cowboys take on the Dolphins in Brisbane at 3.05pm AEST on Sunday.

Originally published as Inside story: How Kyle Feldt won his Cowboys wing