Cowboys hit out at TV influence on match schedule

THE Cowboys are demanding an overhaul of match scheduling after TV chiefs blocked their bid for a fourth day's rest before they face the Knights.

NORTH Queensland hierarchy want an urgent overhaul of NRL match scheduling following revelations Cowboys players will have just 72 hours to prepare for a vital clash against Newcastle after completing a 3500km round trip to Wollongong.

Cowboys and Maroons ace Johnathan Thurston has turned up the heat on the ARL Commission, claiming his side is copping a raw deal.

And the impact of scheduling on the Cowboys' season was laid bare yesterday, with football manager Peter Parr revealing broadcaster Fox Sports had blocked a request to play their round 25 fixture against the Knights on Sunday, August 26 to allow players an extra 24 hours' rest.

The Cowboys face a gruelling road trip the week prior, flying to Sydney before boarding a bus for a 75km journey to take on St George Illawarra at WIN Stadium on Monday, August 20.

By the time they return home on Tuesday afternoon and begin recovery, coach Neil Henry will have just three training sessions to prime his troops for a showdown with the Knights at Dairy Farmers Stadium on a Saturday night.

Parr said the scheduling problem is further evidence to support Thurston's push for the ARL Commission to follow the AFL's lead and introduce a fixed-season schedule in 2013.

"The broadcasters don't give a stuff about the Cowboys' season, they are only concerned about ratings, which is understandable for them, but they shouldn't be dictating the NRL schedule," Parr fired last night.

"A fixed schedule could see the NRL sitting down at the start of the year planning the draw and they wouldn't be subject to broadcasters changing games at the drop of a hat.

"We asked the NRL about putting the Newcastle game on a Sunday, which they said they would, but the broadcasters wouldn't support it and our request got quashed.

"After our Monday night game in Wollongong, we won't begin our preparation for the Knights game until Wednesday and then be expected to play on Saturday.

"That is unfair leading into the finals. It's simply not reasonable recovery time for any NRL team."

Parr said the Cowboys' scheduling plight is exacerbated by the fact their rival finals contenders will enjoy six and seven-day preparations between games.

"Out of the clubs still in finals contention, we are the only club between rounds 20 and 25 that has two five-day turnarounds," he said.

Cowboys hooker Aaron Payne has ruled out a stint in the English Super League after yesterday announcing his retirement from the NRL at season's end.

Payne shunned the opportunity to sign a new deal for 2013, with the clever rake to draw the curtain on his 11-year NRL career next month.

The 29-year-old has previously fielded approaches to finish his career in England, but Payne says he has no aspirations for a Super League cameo.

Cowboys football manager Peter Parr paid tribute to Payne, a member of North Queensland's maiden grand final side which lost to Wests Tigers in 2005.

"He's like the drummer in a band, he's played with a few rock stars but always did his job and contributed in ways people don't realise. He's always done the best for the team," Parr said.

"Aaron has been toying with retirement for a while and I had a gut feeling he would make this call.

"He's a club great, he's a Cowboys life member, he is going out on his own terms, no one made the call for him."