Cowboys hooker Jake Granville says North Queensland’s spine will only get better
PREMIERSHIP winning hooker Jake Granville says the North Queensland Cowboys’ spine will only get even better.
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THE scary thing about NRL premiers North Queensland is their spine is only one season old.
Jake Granville told The Courier-Mail the Cowboys believed there was significant improvement in how their spine functioned.
It was Round 4 last year when the current fullback, hooker and halves combination first formed.
In Round 3, Michael Morgan switched to five-eighth to partner Johnathan Thurston and Lachlan Coote came in as fullback.
The following week Granville graduated from the bench to the starting hooker role.
Week 4 was also their first win of the season, when they came from behind in the second half to break a three-game losing streak and defeat the Melbourne Storm.
At that moment, the Cowboys combination was settled and they won 11 more games in a row for a new club record.
That spine eventually powered them to the club’s maiden title.
“That was our first year as a core group of players in the middle,” Granville said.
“We want to improve and perfect the combinations in our team that we created last year.
“That’s a big thing.
“I want to keep improving. I need to concentrate on my role which is important for the team.
“I want to play consistent footy.
“I need to be smarter with my decision making, in attack and defence.”
The Cowboys’ drive to become the first club since the Broncos in 1992 and 93 to go back to back starts against Cronulla on Saturday night in Townsville.
Granville and coach Paul Green are the only members of the Cowboys to win back to back titles, although their premiership repeat was with Wynnum Manly in the Intrust Super Cup.
The Seagulls won the 2011 and 2012 titles with Granville playing fullback and hooker and Green coaching.
The frizzy-haired hooker laughed about the comparison.
“Not too sure about that, it is a pretty tough competition this one,” he said.
“It will be hard this season because everyone will be up every week.
“The Sharks will be coming out firing.
“Everyone is really positive. We have had a shorter pre-season but everyone has worked really hard.
“We are ready.”
Originally published as Cowboys hooker Jake Granville says North Queensland’s spine will only get better
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