Cowboys going through growing pains, says coach Paul Green

Cowboys coach Paul Green says his young side is still learning to build resilience.

North Queensland Cowboys coach Paul Green speaks to the media following his sides loss to Wests Tigers on Saturday. Picture: AAP

North Queensland coach Paul Green touched down in Townsville at 2am on Sunday and immediately sat down to watch a replay of his side’s disappointing loss to Wests Tigers.

Green then squeezed in a few hours’ sleep before he watched the game again later on that morning. By Sunday afternoon, he had pored over the footage for a third time. Hard work hasn’t been the Cowboys’ problem, at least where the coach is concerned. At a time when Green is apparently under the gun to hold on to his job, his concern on Sunday was more with Steve Kearney and the Warriors’ decision to part ways with their coach on Saturday.

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As for his own side, Green acknowledges things aren’t going well. He insists it has nothing to do with his message and whether it is getting through. Instead, Green says his young side is still learning to build resilience.

“The issues we have got, while it looks a bit technical and tactical at times, the bigger issue is that as a group we are not fighting hard enough for each other,” Green said. “There is not one word that sums it up. But when you don’t have it, you know it. When you do have it, you know.

“Part of that is because we have gone from being an old team to a young team quickly. You build resilience over time as a team.

“We haven’t built enough of that. If we have a really good lead, we are a good team. If we are a long way behind, we become a good team as well.

“We haven’t scored less than 16 points this year. You should be winning games if you’re doing that. The problem is we have let in too many. We have to stick together. We’re not happy with our performance.”

The Cowboys have experience but much of it has been missing this year. They played the Tigers without the services of Michael Morgan, Valentine Holmes and Jordan McLean.

All told, the three take up about 25 per cent of the club’s salary cap. At times, they have been forced to play without Jason Taumalolo.

Green has another year remaining on the lucrative contract extension he signed at the start of 2018 but the club was at pains on Sunday to insist now was not the time for dissent.

The Warriors are privately owned and they can afford to reluctantly pay out the $2m required to dispense with Kearney. The Cowboys aren’t as profligate with their cash. In recent history, they have balanced the books

Asked whether he was concerned about his future, Green replied: “No. I still think I am getting through to them but we’re going through some growing pains and that’s taking a while.

“We have to learn to be tough again and that doesn’t happen overnight. You have to hope you are not losing games in the meantime, but unfortunately we have.”

There has been no indication Green is losing support among the club’s hierarchy — chief executive Jeff Reibel insisted when contacted by The Australian on Sunday now was a time for unity. “My view is that now is the time to stick together,” Reibel said.

“Our club and everyone in the NRL has been going through a bit in the last few months. No one in the club is happy with the losses.

“We’re all hurting from a loss like the one on the weekend. Now is the time for unity and supporting each other in the club.”

Green would no doubt agree. With a handful of clubs vacillating over their head coaching positions, Green would be in demand should he hit the market.

The Cowboys could swim against the stream and extend his deal as a way of showing they have his back. In the meantime, a win would ease much of the angst.