Todd Payten: Why Cowboys star Reece Robson has played himself into a Kangaroos jersey

Todd Payten has thrown his support behind Reece Robson to claim a Kangaroos jersey after his standout season. Read why Payten thinks Mal Meninga simply cannot ignore Robson’s form.

Todd Payten believes his star hooker Reece Robson is in a two-horse race for a green and gold jersey and can clinch his spot by leading North Queensland to premiership glory.

The 26-year-old hooker has barely missed a game for the Cowboys since moving to North Queensland and Payten said Robson had played himself into the selection conversation.

“I would imagine so, yeah. Harry Grant is a fair player too, but between those two I couldn’t imagine it would go to anyone else,” Payten said.

Robson started all three State of Origin matches this year for New South Wales, playing in all five fixtures since his Blues debut in Game 2 last year.

The Daily Telegraph. 8.7.2024 Reece Robson. Westpac NSW Blues players, Westpac NSW Blues squad media day ahead of State of Origin Game 3. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Robson’s mercurial rise in 2023 saw him selected for the Prime Minister’s XIII for the annual game against Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister’s XIII.

Payten said tackling was the main element of his game that Robson had elevated this year.

“His line speed and tackling (is what has improved),” Payten said.

“His service is good, he’s just rock-hard fit, and his aerobic capacity and willingness to do the hard work. That’s why he’s playing Origin.”

Robson made a team-high 41 tackles in the win over Newcastle, but Cronulla-Sutherland poses an even bigger threat through the middle.

The Murwillumbah Colts junior said he was expecting the Sharks to roll up their sleeves and play a power game in the forward pack.

“They’re a big side and if you give them too much ball and momentum they’re pretty hard to handle, the Sharkies,” Robson said.

“We’re just going to try and control the game as best we can as far as possession goes, and that’ll help against their big pack. We definitely can’t give them too much because they’ll take a mile.

Reece Robson said he would look to sniff around the ruck for attacking opportunities later in the game once fatigue had entered the conversation. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

“The way the NRL has gone with the rulings and the way the game is, it’s such a high-speed game and the starts are so important. You’ve got to get them right because it definitely comes back to bit you at the end of games if you start’s not where it needs to be.

“Against a big side like Cronulla, plus how their back five bring it out of their end so well, it’s going to need a big start defensively from us.”

Robson said he would look to sniff around the ruck for attacking opportunities later in the game once fatigue had entered the conversation.

“They’ve got a big pack, so the more fatigue we can bring into the game, hopefully we can get a few of them making some wrong decisions, and it’ll open up for myself or the halves to get a nice run,” Robson said.

“That’s probably what I’m looking at after I get my own job done. I think if everyone in the team is putting in a nine or 10 out of 10 performance, it goes a long way to getting the win.”

NANAI AND TAULAGI CLEARED TO PLAY

Todd Payten has heaped the pressure back onto Cronulla’s forward pack as North Queensland prepares for its do-or-die clash with the Sharks on Friday night.

While the recent head-to-head history between these two sides isn’t pretty for Cowboys fans, it’s clear that the pair have been trending in opposite directions since the season’s midway point.

Since Magic Round, the Cowboys have charged into premiership contention by winning 12 of 15 games while the Sharks barely managed to keep afloat with just seven wins from 15 games.

Following their 27-point defeat to Melbourne last week, the Sharks have now lost seven straight finals and Payten said he expected a vicious response from their pack.

“Their forwards have copped a little bit in the press so we expect them to start fast and physical and play through the middle,” Payten said.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten celebrates with Griffin Neame. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

“They’re a chance of going out in straight sets again, that’s got to be playing on their mind. I know it’d be on my mind, they’re only human.

“The start is really important, and then both teams are gonna have to play on the back foot at different stages, and that’s what we did last really well last week, is handle those moments.

“That’s what finals footy is about: hanging in there when it’s not going great, and finding a way to come over the top.”

Jeremiah Nanai and Murray Taulagi have both been cleared to play after taking a back seat in this week’s main training session.

Payten said Nanai would once again be a focal point for the attack after Melbourne’s Eliesa Katoa caused Cronulla nightmares with his kick-chase last week.

NRL-R 22 Tigers v Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval. Jeremiah Nanai. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

“Jeremiah is always a focal point of our attack. Whenever we finish on that left edge on last play, the kick is generally going in around his direction,” Payten said.

“It just depends on where we finish up on last tackle. When ‘Miah is assertive and asserts himself on the game, we’re a better team and harder to handle.”

Although Siosifa Talakai was named to play centre for the Sharks, Payten expected Jesse Ramien to come back into the side after recovering from an ankle injury.

“Jesse Ramien is named in the extended bench so I wouldn’t be surprised if he runs out,” Payten said.

“Sifa Talakai has played Origin and he’s a handy player. He’s a threat and he’s hard to handle, but Val (Holmes) is in some pretty good form and he’s going to have to handle him. So it’ll be a good challenge for both of those boys.”

The Cowboys take on the Sharks in an elimination semi-final on Friday night, kick-off is at 7.50pm.

Originally published as Todd Payten: Why Cowboys star Reece Robson has played himself into a Kangaroos jersey