North Queensland centre Kane Linnett says the Cowboys must embrace Sydney spotlight

RATHER than fear what once was a theatre of pain for the Cowboys, centre Kane Linnett says his teammates should embrace the Sydney spotlight.

Cowboys training from 1300 Smiles Stadium. Kane Linnett. Picture: Zak Simmonds

RATHER than fear what once was a theatre of pain for the North Queensland Cowboys, centre Kane Linnett says his teammates should now embrace the Sydney spotlight.

The countdown is on for what is shaping as the crunch week for North Queensland’s premiership hopes, with the Cowboys clashing against Penrith on Monday followed by the South Sydney Rabbitohs next Saturday.

Wins from both games would almost lock North Queensland inside the top four, but more crucially it would add further fuel to what has already been an impressive turnaround in fortunes.

Apart from breaking a long-running Sydney hoodoo with their recent away wins against Cronulla and Canterbury-Bankstown, the Cowboys have firmed into $11 for this year’s premiership after being $81 outsiders with betting agencies midway through the season.

Sydney holds no fear for Linnett in particular, who grew up just one hour’s drive away from the New South Wales capital in Wollongong, and he can see nothing but opportunity by diving headfirst into next week’s Sydney sojourn.

“It will get us ready for the big games, because if we can’t beat those teams coming into finals then there’s not much point being in there,” Linnett said.

“I never really feared playing away from home, but it will give the boys a lot more confidence knowing we’re coming off a couple of (away) wins and it will set us up in good shape.”

Linnett and his fellow backs have a huge challenge against Penrith’s back five on Monday.

Led by in-form fullback Matthew Moylan, the Panthers’ edge players have been ruthlessly efficient and Linnett rated it as North Queensland’s biggest threat.

“I think both their edges are really strong and their big five are all really good carriers of the footy,” he said.

“We’ll have a big test on our edge and me and Tones (Antonio Winterstein) are just going to have to work well in defence.

“They definitely get their sets going and we’ll have to do a good job on those back five.”

Kane Linnett at Cowboys training.

Like the Cowboys, Penrith have suffered their own injury troubles and lost five-eighth Peter Wallace to a season-ending ACL tear in Round 20.

Linnett played alongside Wallace for Scotland’s “Bravehearts” at last year’s Rugby League World Cup, but despite his loss the Panthers have won their last two encounters against the Bulldogs and Dragons.

“I think they just lose a bit of (direction) getting around the park and I played with him last year, and he’s a really good leader,” Linnett said.

“But William Smith has done a really good job for them.”

The Cowboys will stay at three different hotels during their week-long stay in Sydney starting tomorrow afternoon as they aim to keep their new-found away form alive.

“It’s going to good to be (based) down there and hopefully it makes us a little bit tighter as a group,” Linnett said.

“I think we’ve come together really well and it’s a tight group at the moment, and we’ve got each others backs on the field … it’s showing in our performances.

“We’re all just really on our toes and we know we have to perform.”