Unsigned North Queensland forward Glenn Hall playing for new Cowboys deal

UNSIGNED forward Glenn Hall is playing for his Cowboys career after answering an SOS from coach Paul Green for Friday’s sudden-death clash.

Cowboys v Storm

UNSIGNED forward Glenn Hall is playing for his Cowboys career after answering an SOS from coach Paul Green for Friday night’s sudden-death clash with the Roosters.

Tariq Sims’ shattering season-ending suspension on Tuesday opened the door for Hall, who was promoted to the starting side for the finals showdown at Allianz Stadium.

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Hall’s bench role was handed to Ethan Lowe, who also has a shot at finals redemption after being hit with a two-match ban in July for illegally betting on NRL games.

While the five-match ban has ended Sims’ career at the Cowboys, it may have revived Hall’s as the veteran steels himself for a display that could clinch one final deal in Townsville.

At 33, the premiership-winning backrower or prop has been in limbo for months and will face the Roosters aware he has yet to receive a formal offer for next season.

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Hall insists he is not ready for retirement and, with Sims rubbed out, can convince Green he is worth retaining by helping the Cowboys end the Roosters’ title defence.

“I’ll be honest, I don’t know where I stand — I’m playing every game as if it’s my last,” said Hall, a member of Manly’s 2008 premiership side.

“I am still off-contract, but I couldn’t tell you what the Cowboys are thinking.

“I’ve spoken to the club but at this stage, there’s been no decisions made.

“I have found a home here, the people up here are fantastic and the club is unbelievable, everything about the Cowboys is what I like and I’d love to stay.

“I think I’m physically capable of going another year and mentally I’d love to play another year.

“Look, if I didn’t think I would be able to compete for a starting spot for the whole year, I wouldn’t do it to the club.

“It’s a big ask to do a pre-season and play even a couple of games, but my passion hasn’t waned and I’d love to go on.”

A veteran of five NRL clubs, Hall has been an unheralded performer at the Cowboys, having played 93 games for the club since his arrival in 2011.

The Cowboys will miss Sims’ explosive bursts on the fringes, but in Hall they have a no-frills campaigner who will not be daunted by sudden-death football.

“He’s won comps before and been around a long time, so he'll be fine,” Green said yesterday.

A player without an NRL contract in September is usually a dead-man walking, but the Cowboys insist they have not ruled out the prospect of retaining Hall.

The veteran of 187 first-grade games warned the Cowboys would pay a fatal price if they suffered the mid-match slump that prompted Brisbane’s fightback last week.

“If we turn up like that against the Roosters, it won't be pretty,” Hall said.

“We have the team to go all the way, but we’re coming up against the premiers from last year so they will make you pay if you make mistakes like that.”