Cowboys will cope without suspended backrower Tariq Sims, says Gavin Cooper

GAVIN Cooper says the Cowboys have already moved on from the shock of Tariq Sims being forced out of Monday’s crucial clash with Penrith.

The North Queensland Cowboys v West Tigers from 1300 Smiles Stadium. Cowboys Tariq Sims gets pass Tigers Curtis Sironen and Robbie Farah.. Picture: Zak Simmonds

AS far as Gavin Cooper is concerned the Cowboys have already moved on from the shock of Tariq Sims being forced out of Monday’s crucial clash with Penrith.

Cooper is in line to make his first run-on start since Round 10 after Sims was controversially found guilty of a dangerous tackle change by the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night, and the former Panther will gladly answer Green’s call if needed.

“I hope I start,” Cooper said.

“(I’ve spent) two weeks playing 60 minutes and it’s a bit colder in Penrith, so it won’t burn my lungs as much as it does up here.

“On the weekend (against Wests Tigers) it wasn’t the real hard game I was expecting from a team battling with a few things on and off the field.”

Cooper has made a seamless transition back to first-grade after spending three months on the sidelines with a dislocated hip.

He will provide Green with another option after Sims had been named to start against Penrith earlier this week.

Cooper said it was business as usual despite losing Sims, although Test prop James Tamou did not train with the first-grade squad on Thursday after spending the past two weeks out with a neck complaint.

“It will be tough for him (Sims) but we’ll move on,” Cooper said.

“I’m not too sure who’ll come in, but I’m sure they’ll do their job.’’

Cooper said he would relish the opportunity of starting against the in-form Panthers, who are third on the NRL ladder and have in their ranks former Cowboys hooker James Segeyaro.

John Asiata could move on to the Cowboys bench, but another option is Ethan Lowe, who is available again after serving a two-match suspension.

Gavin Cooper at Cowboys training.

Cooper and his teammates have been making a conscious effort to stay grounded after last weekend’s 64-4 thumping of the Tigers, given the disparity in form between the battling Tigers and the Panthers.

Victory over Penrith at Sportingbet Stadium could propel North Queensland inside the top four and earn a home semi-final.

Cooper said the Cowboys had massive room for improvement despite backing up from a club record win.

“A few boys were a little bit under the pump in defence because we weren’t doing much back-to-back stuff, and when the time came to tackle we looked a bit buggered,” he said.

“Our next month of footy we play first, second and third (placed teams), so it’s going to be a massive month even though we’re not looking past Monday.

“(Penrith) just keep turning up and they play an attacking style of footy thorough the middle and then they’ve got some big boys on the edges that finish off.’’