Return of ‘most influential player’ a shining light in Cowboys’ growing injury darkness

The Cowboys’ growing injury list gained a couple of extra names on Sunday, but coach Todd Payten is optimistic about his chances against the Dolphins as the team welcome back their ace.

The Cowboys are set for more personnel changes this week ahead of the much-anticipated Good Friday Dolphins clash, but it’s not all bad news with the return of the team’s “most influential player” giving Todd Payten reason to be confident.

Veteran front rower Jordan McLean and 21-year-old Cairns product Heilum Luki both left the field in the second half with hamstring complaints and while the extent of their injuries is unclear, both are expected to spend time on the sideline.

That could bring at least one new forward into the fold, with the return of the Cowboys’ most lethal attacking weapon Scott Drinkwater necessitating a change for rookie fullback Tom Chester.

Tom Chester is tackled in the Cowboys’ match against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Payten said the coaching staff would discuss what the club’s best team looks like heading into round 6.

“Drinky is probably our most influential player,” Payten said.

“Tommy (Chester) has done really well in three games, he’s what we love up in Townsville, he’s a local kid and he busts his a*** for his teammates.

“He’ll fight and scrap for every inch out on the pitch, and I thought that last try he still had a bit of work to do to get the ball down.

“He’s a first grader, there’s no doubt about that. We’ll look at the balance of the team and talk as coaches and make some decisions.”

North Queensland Cowboys Heilum Luki. Picture: Evan Morgan

Payten admitted he was initially worried Luki had re-injured his knee, but was thankful the prognosis was not so severe.

“Really concerned for Heilum around his knee, he was pretty upset when he came off and I just didn’t have a good feeling, but to hear from the medical people a few minutes later that it’s just his hamstrings was really positive,” Payten said.

“He’s been really good for us too, he’s been back for three weeks off the back of an ACL and he’s been a real threat.”

Jason Taumalolo is tackled. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

There was also concern for Cowboys co-captain Jason Taumalolo after a hip-drop tackle forced him to leave the field with a knee injury in the 14th minute, but he shook it off to record a team-leading 198 metres.

Taumalolo said he carried no grudges against Bulldogs utility Jayden Okunbor, who was put on report and sin-binned for the incident.

“It was quite a heavy track out there, but I thought there was great football being played,” Taumalolo said.

“Probably not the position you want to be caught in, but that’s part of the game, it’s going to happen.

“There was nothing in it, whatever happened on the field, leave it on the field and outside of it move on.”

Originally published as Return of ‘most influential player’ a shining light in Cowboys’ growing injury darkness