Hunting season: Cowboys looking to rattle Origin star in search of win over Dragons

Todd Payten has all but confirmed a major in for Sunday’s clash with the Dragons, and targeted their attack on one key playmaker.

THE Cowboys will be on a Dragon Hunt at Kogarah on Sunday as they look to nullify the effect of one of the form players in the NRL.

Coach Todd Payten has singled out Queensland State of Origin hero Ben Hunt as the Cowboys look to strengthen their grip on a top-two spot with a second win in six weeks over the Dragons.

The Cowboys mentor would not go into detail on how they would try to counteract Hunt but said the St George playmaker would be getting a lot of attention on Sunday afternoon.

“We have put a little bit of focus on him,” Payten admitted.

“We’ve got a plan of attack on how to handle him. He’ll be getting some traffic in his direction too when we’ve got the ball.

Reuben Cotter is expected to don the Cowboys jersey for the first time since a warm-up injury derailed his Origin campaign. Picture: NRL Images

“I thought he had a strong origin campaign, and he would have some confidence out of the back of that.

“He’s just a good little competitor and a lot of the spark happens around him in their team.

“And then he’s been kicking early within sets coming down the road in this past month, so he’s got a good feel for the game and trying to swing momentum back in St George’s favour at different times.”

The Dragons will have three former North Queensland stars in their starting line-up, Tariq Sims, Francis Molo and Josh McGuire.

Payten said Sims left a few years ago, so his connections to the club might not be as strong, Molo and McGuire still had firm links with the Cowboys.

“They were only here last year,” he said.

“There’s a strong connection within the playing group for those guys.

“I expect them to be revved up and ready to go.

“They’re coming off the bench, so they’ll be providing plenty of impact. Frank’s aggressive with what he does with and without the ball, and Josh can be abrasive and get under people’s skin.

“But our guys will know how to handle that.”

Payten said Reuben Cotter, who has not played since injuring his hamstring in the warm-up to the round 15 clash with the Sea Eagles, was likely to return to action against the Dragons.

The coach said he already knew who would make way for Cotter’s return but would not reveal that for at least 24 hours.

“The likelihood of him playing is good,” Payten said.

“He moved well first two sessions back to the team and prior to that he was in that rehab group and running on his own doing some straight-line stuff.

Ben Hunt of the Dragons passes during the round 19 NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

“We’ve got his volume up in that area, but you know, he’s been moving quickly and moving game specific in the last two days, so, fingers crossed, he’ll be right to go.”

Meanwhile, Payten has shut down rumours the Cowboys would make a move for Marty Taupau after the enforcer yesterday requested an immediate release from Manly.

“We have had zero contact with Marty Taupau,” he said.

“I’ve been asked a couple of times in the past 12 months about that. There was none then, there’s none now.

“We don’t have a lot of roster spots left.

“We have some people pencilled in. Then we have just got to make sure that we get the deals done.”

Cowboy Murray Taulagi reveals toll Covid battle took on mental health

Nic Darveniza

MURRAY Taulagi has lifted the lid on the depths his mental health plunged during his Origin Covid nightmare.

The Cowboys and Queensland wing watched on from isolation as the Maroons clinched the series without him in a win for the ages.

In his first interview since the devastating PCR test that forced him out of Camp Maroon five days from kick-off, Taulagi revealed the immense toll the ordeal had taken on his headspace.

“It wasn’t good,” the 23-year-old admitted.

“I was really happy for the boys and the way they just got stuck into the New South Wales players but yeah, it was tough watching the game.

“Finding out that I had Covid was really tough on myself and my family.”

Murray Taulagi revealed his devastation at missing the Maroons State of Origin decider. Picture: Getty Images

Taulagi described feeling “rattled” in the anxious hours between a positive RAT test and the PCR test result that would confirm his worst fear.

“Mate, it (his headspace) was rattled,” Taulagi said.

“I just really wanted to play and perform for my state and I didn’t get the opportunity.

“My headspace wasn’t really in the right space. I was definitely rattled.

“I was lucky I had a really good support group and a couple of players from the Cows, and Coops (Gavin Cooper) gave me a call just to check up on me.”

The virus itself presented like the flu, Taulagi said, with headaches, coughing and cold sweats.

The difference between his aerobic capacity in previous weeks to his return to training has been stark.

“Training in the last couple of weeks compared to this week, it’s been pretty tough,” Taulagi said.

“Just breathing-wise, I feel like I’ve been all blocked up.

“I’m feeling really good training over the last couple of days while the boys had the weekend off, so yeah, I’m slowly trying to find my groove.

“I’ll be ready for Sunday.”

The Cowboys winger has scored 11 tries in 16 appearances this season, one behind Origin teammate Jeremiah Nanai in North Queensland’s leading scorer race.

Murray Taulagi’s pass for Scott Drinkwater at Magic Round. Picture: NRL Media

On Sunday afternoon he will face a favourite victim in the Tigers and winger David Nofoaluma.

Taulagi has scored four tries in three games against the Tigers, his equal-best strike rate against any opposition (Newcastle, also three in four).

In Magic Round this season he notched a double and featured in a contender for try of the season with a diving offload to Scott Drinkwater.

“I’m really excited. I feel like I haven’t played at home for a while and it was pretty tough to watch the boys play on Friday, just wishing you were out there,” Taulagi said.

“Sunday afternoon games are always good and hopefully the heat comes out too.

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

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Originally published as Hunting season: Cowboys looking to rattle Origin star in search of win over Dragons