Cowboys’ Lachlan Coote to face former club Penrith Panthers with a point to prove

COWBOYS fullback Lachlan Coote says he is ready to face Penrith, the club that lost faith in him because of repeated breakdowns.

Trial match between the North Queensland Cowboys v Townsville Blackhawks from Jack Manski Oval. Cowboys Lachlan Coote. Picture: Zak Simmonds

LACHLAN Coote has finally buried his injury demons. The Cowboys fullback says he is ready to face Penrith, the club that lost faith in him because of repeated breakdowns.

Coote will enter familiar territory on Monday night when he returns to Penrith’s Pepper Stadium, the place he lit up well before Panthers fullback prodigy Matt Moylan burst onto the scene.

Coote prefers not to talk of revenge, but he has not forgotten the machinations that saw Penrith grant him an early release to start afresh in Townsville.

Coote, who celebrates his 25th birthday on Monday, had another year to run on his Panthers contract when the Cowboys approached his management near the end of the 2013 season.

The Cowboys needed a replacement for retiring wizard Matt Bowen and Coote had piqued their interest.

When Coote sounded out Penrith about a long-term extension, the club baulked, concerned about an injury history which included a shoulder reconstruction and osteitis pubis.

The Panthers were entitled to feel vindicated when Coote snapped his ACL in his first outing for the Cowboys at last year’s NRL Nines, but time has healed wounds on dual fronts.

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Coote is still proving his body can take the toll of playing in the NRL.

Coote feels no bitterness towards Penrith. The mental scar tissue over his knee reconstruction was eased significantly after he played a key role in the Cowboys’ stunning extra-time defeat of Melbourne on Monday night.

“I’ve been waiting for a long time to play my old club,” said Coote, who played 83 games for Penrith and will wage a duel with Moylan on Monday.

“I don’t put it down to revenge. It will just be good to get a win against my old club and hopefully we can do it.

“It’s been a long road back for me. I was out of the game for 12 months and there were doubts, but our win last week has given me a lot of confidence with the knee.

“Just being in open spaces, my knee feels normal again. I’m stepping off it which is a good sign and it felt good to be out there making a few line breaks.

“I’ve been a part of some good wins with the Panthers but that (defeat of the Storm) was more special and hopefully it continues this week.”

Coote has hailed Matt Moylan’s development and influence for Penrith.

Coote was impressive in his second NRL game for the Cowboys, posing a constant threat to the Storm as he amassed 165 metres from 14 runs, including one line break.

It was the type of display that saw Coote tagged as a potential NSW Origin player at Penrith. Former Maroons skipper Darren Lockyer began his illustrious NRL career at fullback and believes Coote can spark the Cowboys from the backfield.

“I like the look of Lachlan, he is always in the game,” Lockyer said. “He is a fullback with plenty of energy and he will complement their halves Michael Morgan and Johnathan Thurston once he gets back to his best form.

“Every premiership contender needs a top-class fullback and Coote has that ability.”

Coote was watching from the sidelines last year when Moylan snapped a late field goal to break the Cowboys’ hearts 23-22 at Penrith.

“He’s been unreal,’’ Coote said. “Moylan was on the fringe for the Australian team last year and he’s playing some good footy.

“He brings enthusiasm and spark to the team, but hopefully we can stop him this week.”