Cowboys coach Paul Green says Sharks players will have Origin selection weighing on their minds
COWBOYS coach Paul Green says the Sharks will have more than the defending premiers to battle with Origin selection also weighing on their minds.
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COWBOYS coach Paul Green says the Sharks will have more than the defending premiers to battle on Monday night with a nine-game winning streak and Origin selection also weighing on the minds of the NRL surprise packets.
The Sharks and Cowboys will clash at Cronulla on Monday night in what is expected to be one of the games of the season.
Sharks fans have been rushing to buy grand final tickets on the back of their team’s nine-match winning streak which has seen them backed into $4.50 contenders to end their long premiership drought.
Cronulla’s Wade Graham and Jack Bird are in contention to be named in the NSW Origin team
and Green said it was impossible to ignore the hype around State of Origin selection.
The Cowboys know first hand the danger after winger Kyle Feldt’s howler against the Broncos in the lead up to Origin I.
“It’s hard not to think about that,” Green said. “Feldty probably had his worst game of the year against the Broncos but he’s bounced back since.
“You can say you’ll put it out of your mind but you can’t.
“I’m not sure how it’s going to affect them.”
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan said Graham was focused on his NRL duties and wouldn’t let the hype get to him.
“Wade’s a really level-headed kid,” Flanagan said.
“He won’t be thinking about Origin. It’s all speculation.
“If (Daley) picks Jack and Wade I’ll be elated. If he decides to go another way those two boys will get on with it.
“I’m sure Laurie’s picked his team and just needs to get through the weekend.
“They’ll announce it after our game but I don’t think too much will change from our game.”
For the first time in eight weeks, Green has named the same 17 that clinched last year’s historic premiership.
The Cowboys beat Cronulla 20-14 in Round 1 at 1300SMILES Stadium, however the Sharks have only lost one game since.
Cronulla ended North Queensland’s 11-game winning streak last season and Green said consistently winning can build pressure.
“The more things like that happen, the more people talk about it,” he said.
“It’s hard not to let it creep into your mind. Whether or not it affects them, I don’t know. Only the blokes involved in the team will know that.
“Their form line is up. They’ve beaten Melbourne and Brisbane.
“You can’t question their credentials and they’re at home. You can’t knock the way they’ve been going.”
The Cowboys have had a long turnaround after thumping Newcastle 46-16 and Origin players Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, James Tamou, Michael Morgan and Justin O’Neill will benefit from the rest.
The Round 1 clash was a nailbiter and the Sharks have got stronger since with playmakers James Maloney, Chad Townsend, Michael Ennis and Ben Barba forming one of the slickest spines in the league.
“We were in it until the 74th minute,” Flanagan said.
“They’ve got the same side from the grand final and we’ve been lucky enough to keep most of our team since round one.
“We’ve improved. We’re a better football team but so are the Cowboys.”
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