Young Cowboys run down by Mackay Cutters

THE next generation of North Queensland Cowboys failed to make the most of their attacking opportunities in Saturday night’s trial loss to feeder club the Mackay Cutters in Proserpine.

NRL trial Cowboys v Mackay Cutters

THE next generation of North Queensland Cowboys failed to make the most of their attacking opportunities in Saturday night’s trial loss to feeder club the Mackay Cutters in Proserpine.

Fielding an under-20s side along with a handful of fulltime squad members, the Cowboys enjoyed wealth of first-half possession but they could only convert that into an 8-0 lead at the break before the Cutters stormed home to win 26-14 at Les Stagg Oval.

“We had a fair share of possession in the first half, I think we had 24 sets, but we didn’t make the most of it,” Cowboys under-20s coach Aaron Payne said.

“It was a bit of a role reversal in the second half. They starved us of possession and completed around 90%. They never gave us a chance.

“Hopefully we can take a few lessons from that and our boys will be better for the run.”

Teenage superstar Kalyn Ponga played out the first half against the Cutters after his 15-minute cameo against the Townsville Blackhawks on Thursday night.

The highly-rated fullback has enjoyed an eye-catching pre-season, scoring a try with his first touch against the Broncos in Bundaberg, but Payne said Ponga still has a ways to go before he’s ready for NRL level.

“The important thing to remember with him, while he is going well, he’s still only 17,” Payne said.

“It’s a completely different level when you play against men compared to under-20s.”

The Cowboys under-20s have one more trial match against Northern Pride in Atherton this Saturday before the opening round of the NYC season against the Sharks on March 5.

Payne hoped to have a full-strength team to take on the Pride with the likes of Coen Hess and Gideon Gela-Mosby back on deck.

“That’ll be as close to our round one team as possible,” he said.

Originally published as Young Cowboys run down by Mackay Cutters