Monday Buzz: Inside the Cowboys coaching box with Paul Green

MONDAY BUZZ: Phil Rothfield takes you behind the scenes after being a guest in Paul Green’s coaching box at the Suncorp Stadium double header.

Cowboys coach Paul Green.

PAUL Green never gave up hope, just like in last year’s grand final.

On Saturday night your columnist saw it first hand as a guest in his coaching box at the Suncorp Stadium double header.

The defending premiers went down 15-14 to Melbourne in a gripping arm-wrestle.

For the last two minutes he would check the score­board clock at least half a dozen times, looking for a strip, a loose carry, an error or a miracle.

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Cowboys forward Ethan Lowe takes on the Storm defence. Picture: Adam Head

Unlike the first Sunday evening in October last year, it didn’t eventuate. Still, we got an incredible insight into the premier coach and the way he operates.

Obviously it’s tense. Early on Green knocks a bottle of water over his notebook and stats.

The burly security guard on the door rushes off to get serviettes from the suite next door to mop up.

There is also a brief period with a communication breakdown and Green loses contact with his assistant coach Todd Payten on the sideline.

Assistant Dave Furner phones downstairs on his ­mobile to get it sorted.

These are the little things we don’t see on television. It mightn’t sound much but it adds to the stress.

At times it gets technical. The Cowboys have the scrum feed in Storm territory in the first half.

Green sends a messages for different set plays.

“Get them to set up right, gold off the scrum,” he says. “Then a left gold 7 arrow and then a 9 dog eagle.” Later on he wants a “GT Rooster”.

Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston runs with the ball at Suncorp Stadium.

At no stage, despite the pressure, does he refer to a player or staff member by his surname and never criticises anyone individually.

Messages go out like: “Ask Chicken (physio Steve ­Sartori) if Thumper’s (Matt Scott) ankle cools down is it going to get worse.”

Or “Bear (blue shirt trainer Paul Bowman), go tell Russian (Rory Kostjasyn) …”

“Get to Jimmy (James Tamou) about splitting his feet on contact.”

This was a game between two premiership heavyweights that was always going down to the wire.

The Storm led 12-8 at halftime. The only tries they scored all night were within a three-minute period (Tohu Harris 24th minute, Kevin Proctor 27th). One came from a blunder when the normally reliable fullback Lachlan Coote dropped a bomb.

Again Green didn’t blow up. It’s part of the game and even the great players are going to make mistakes.

Kyle Feldt flies high for the Cowboys.

The second half is under way. The Storm get a penalty in front early on. They take the two.

Green seems happy enough with the call. Cameron Smith’s goal gives the Storm a 14-8 lead but two points are better than six. And it gives his boys a chance to regroup.

The message goes out: “Bear, this is our chance to get some ascendancy. Get the foot back on the throat. Simple things. Talk about our contact, our line speed and our tackle. Restart with energy.”

It works. Ten minutes later the Cowboys level the scores with a Michael Morgan try and Johnathan Thurston conversion. It’s the most emotion Green shows all night, jumping out of his seat and punching his fist into his other hand.

Michael Morgan is congratulated after scoring a try for the Cowboys. Picture: Adam Head

Now it becomes an arm-wrestle. Green keeps calling and urging for more in defence. “We’re taking two steps and then just stopping. Defensively we’re waiting too much. Line speed, line speed … that’s why they’re worrying us, particularly when they use width. Rev them up, Bear.”

Former Canberra coach Furner sits next to Green. He is a calm man. Always positive and quietly offering his thoughts while at the same time not overdosing Green with comments.

He reassures Green when Smith kicks a field goal to give the Storm a 15-14 lead around the 70th minute. “No probs, still plenty of time.”

Steve Burman is the man who does the video analysis and stats during the game.

He brings his laptop, a computer screen, a couple of iPads and a portable printer. Within a few seconds of the coach wanting to check a crucial moment, he’ll have it ready.

Not that it helped tonight. The Cowboys are beaten fair and square. Unusual for a side that kept its line intact for all but a three-minute period.

Kevin Proctor on the charge for the Storm.

By full-time Green had worked up a decent sweat as he headed for the lifts to address his troops and the media.

“It was a very good contest but they probably fought a bit harder than us at different stages,” he says. “We probably lacked a bit of composure at important stages.

“Our execution wasn’t as good as it normally is. It wasn’t as clinical as we can play. Sometimes having that break we had can affect your momentum.”

Now it’s back to Townsville. Six days to get ready for the Broncos derby. He’s up against Wayne Bennett, a friend and guest at his wedding. Another big day at the office.

■ We made an agreement ­before the game. No swear words would be published and no quotes that might ­embarrass players. Not that it mattered because he didn’t criticise players, he didn’t bag the referee and his language …. well, I’ve heard a lot worse.

North Queensland Cowboys coach Paul Green. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Inside the Cowboys coaching box with Paul Green