Cowboys and Maroons prop Matt Scott will have neck surgery at the end of the season

QUEENSLAND’S Matt Scott will use Cowboys teammate and NSW rival James Tamou as inspiration to conquer a neck injury that is causing pain down his arm.

Matt Scott during Queensland Origin team training at the Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove Resort training field on the Gold Coast. Pics Adam Head

QUEENSLAND front-rower Matt Scott will use Cowboys teammate and NSW rival James Tamou as inspiration to conquer a neck injury that is causing pain down his arm.

Scott said he would almost certainly need surgery at the end of the season after having a cortisone injection for the disc problem that has been exaggerated due to the rise of wrestling in NRL in the past decade.

Tamou underwent career-saving surgery in the pre-season and after some tentative weeks he returned to stunning form for North Queensland to become the form front-rower of the NRL and reclaim his Test jersey.

James Tamou underwent career-saving surgery in the off-season. Picture: Wesley Monts

Scott, who has carried the neck issue for a few seasons, said he would play out the season in pain before trying to get the problem corrected.

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“Pretty much the same type of surgery if I get it done as big Jimmy (Tamou) had,” Scott said.

“Look it’s not too scary. I’ve played with it for a couple of years and had a couple of cortisones before. It’s something that you learn to play with deal with. I’m sure there’s a few other guys with that type of injury.

“Definitely seeing how good that type of operation was good for Jimmy and how well he’s come back gives me a bit of confidence.

“It’s rugby league players’ curse. Certainly the front-rowers deal with a bit more contact than anyone else.

“My wife worries a little bit. Any surgery with the neck is a bit of a worry but this one is pretty low-key compared with what you can do with the neck.

“I keep telling her it’s not dangerous and she still doesn’t believe me.’’

The 29-year-old trained fully with the Maroons yesterday, while Darius Boyd (groin) and Cameron Smith (rested) did not take part in the team run.

Boyd ran strongly with physios away from the main group, and stretched out with some lateral running, but Smith was given the afternoon off as he continues to recover from playing last Monday.

The full Maroons side is expected for today’s opposed session with Tweed Heads Intrust Super Cup team.

Scott was disappointed by some of Queensland’s defence in the middle of the park in their Origin II loss to the Blues and said the Maroons forwards would rectify that at Suncorp Stadium.

Scott has lost three of his past four Origin games and is determined to reclaim the Origin shield on Wednesday night after watching last year’s dead rubber from the stands with a serious facial injury.

If the Maroons suffer successive series losses it could bring on a changing of the guard but Scott is not feeling the pressure of rep futures being on the line.

Matt Scott during Queensland Origin team training. Pics Adam Head

“It’s not pressure of losing our spot as such, it’s just about winning for Queensland,” Scott said.

“We don’t want to lose another series. I hate the fact that we don’t have the shield at the moment. The pressure for me is about getting it back.

“If I’m not doing the job and my time has come, then I’m happy with that. So be it and I’ll accept that.’’