North Queensland Cowboys have realistic view of 2014: Matt Scott

Matt Scott says the Cowboys' 2013 failure has left him with a more realistic view of what it takes to achieve premiership success.

North Queensland Cowboys training at 1300 Smiles Stadium. Matt Scott. Picture: Evan Morgan

NORTH Queensland co-captain Matt Scott learnt a valuable lesson from the Cowboys' 2013 failure and will enter 2014 with a more realistic view of what it takes to achieve premiership success.

Scott admitted the Cowboys were guilty of believing their own hype last season when touted as pre-season premiership contenders they struggled badly and only just scraped into the top eight.

The Test prop said the Cowboys would let their football do the talking in 2014 with pre-season training ramping up this week after the return of the club's World Cup heroes.

New coach Paul Green held his first full team field session yesterday with Johnathan Thurston, Brent Tate and James Tamou all now in full training.

Scott has held brief talks with Green about what is expected in 2014, but the star front rower needs little prompting about what the Cowboys need to do to improve upon last year's disappointment.

North Queensland Cowboys training at 1300 Smiles Stadium. Johnathan Thurston. Picture: Evan Morgan

"I think (2013) was a bit of an eye opener, it doesn't matter what sort of team you've got or how good your squad is if you can't perform on the night it doesn't mean much and you're still in for an early holiday,'' Scott said.

"We are a bit more realistic this year, we know we have to work a bit harder and perform a lot better on the day of the game.

"I think it's just we need to work harder during the pre-season. Not that we didn't work hard last year, we need to concentrate on the things we have to and really buy into what Greeny is telling us.

"We sort of got ahead of ourselves last year, we thought we were going to go a bit better than we obviously did and there was a lot of talk about the squad without actually performing.

"I think everyone this year is keen to get out there and let the talking happen on the field.''

North Queensland Cowboys training at 1300 Smiles Stadium. Matt Scott. Picture: Evan Morgan

Scott said he was determined to lead the Cowboys to premiership glory, noting how his trophy cabinet has one major prize missing after claiming Origin and World Cup wins in 2013.

"Definitely there is a massive gap in the cabinet,'' Scott said.

"Obviously premierships are what we play for, it's been a goal since I started first grade. That doesn't change this year.''

While fellow Test prop Tamou surprised all by returning to training a week early last week, Scott said he was in reasonable fitness having done workouts on his own before joining teammates again.

"Young guys always do that,'' Scott said of Tamou.

"Give him a couple more years of first grade and he might not be so keen.

"I like to do my training away from this place, we tend to spend a fair bit of time here.

"I managed to stay on top of things over the break and I feel not too far off the mark.

"It's great to see (Tamou) that keen.''