Cowboys set to call on Matt Scott, axe Corey Jensen

THE Cowboys look set to mess with their winning formula after rookie Corey Jensen said he would stand aside if Matt Scott was ready to play in the grand final.

Matt Scott of the Cowboys, (centre), looks on as his team warms up ahead of the NRL Preliminary Final between the Sydney Roosters and the North Queensland Cowboys at Allianz Stadium.

DALLY M superstar Jason Taumalolo would give up his grand-final berth for Matt Scott as the rookie expected to make way for the returning co-captain declared he would accept being axed for the Cowboys to win another title.

Scott is in line to make a remarkable return from a 205-day absence with a knee injury in Sunday’s grand final against Melbourne at ANZ Stadium.

The Test and Maroons prop has been declared fit and coach Paul Green will green-light his return by on Tuesday naming Scott in his 21-man squad.

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Matt Scott is set to return for the Cowboys.

Injured Cowboys players Johnathan Thurston (L) and Matt Scott (R) assist Cowboys warm up.

It will be one of the game’s great comeback stories, however it means Green must axe one of the players that has helped North Queensland produce a Cinderella story during the finals series.

While bench forwards Coen Hess (knee) and John Asiata (broken hand) are carrying injuries, rookie prop Corey Jensen seems the most likely player to make way for Scott.

Jensen, 23, made his NRL debut for the Cowboys in Round 7 and has played 16 games this season but admitted the team must come first.

“I don’t know what to feel. It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Jensen told The Courier-Mail.

“It’s my first year in the NRL and to make a grand final is a dream come true.

“It’s a team-first mentality. Thumper (Scott) is one of our captains and an international player. He’s a great player for the club.

“If he was to come back and I was to miss out … the team comes first and I know he’ll do the job and do it proudly.”

Corey Jensen has been strong in his first year of NRL.

It would be heartbreaking for one of the 17 players from North Queensland’s triumph over the Roosters last Saturday to be axed for the decider.

League greats Darren Lockyer and Andrew Johns on Sunday appealed for Green to stick with the same team but Scott’s availability could be too hard to ignore.

The 109kg veteran would bring size and 233 games of NRL experience to combat Melbourne’s giant pack comprising Jesse Bromwich, Jordan McLean and Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

Taumalolo has been in devastating form and there is no chance he would make way for Scott’s return.

But the 113kg wrecking ball said Scott was so highly regarded he would give up his jersey to see him play.

“It will be pretty unfortunate if one of the boys missed out,” he said.

“If I had it my way, I’d give my jersey to a co-captain if I could. Everyone can do the job, we’ve proven that in the last three weeks.

“The boys off the bench have been phenomenal. We spoke about the ‘benchies’ doing a great job for us (against the Roosters). They were a big part of us winning the game.”

Originally published as Cowboys set to call on Matt Scott, axe Corey Jensen