North Queensland must overcome a worrying AAMI Park hoodoo if they are to earn a berth in the NRL grand final.
While no team still active in the NRL has a winning record against the Storm at AAMI Park the Cowboys’ record is particularly bad.
Going into Saturday’s preliminary final against the Storm, Paul Green’s side have a two from 11 record playing in the Victorian capital.
The only teams with worse records at AAMI Park are South Sydney, St George Illawarra, Penrith and Wests Tigers.
Melbourne have also had the wood over the Townsville side since the Cowboys entered the NRL in 1995, winning 20 of 29 clashes.
And it seems to be playing on the minds of the Cowboys as they seek to claim the club’s first premiership.
“Melbourne in Melbourne is just a hard game in general,” Jason Taumalolo said.
“The travel, all the way from up here in North Queensland, and how cold it is down there… it’s not easy.”
Maybe it is the cold – Melbourne this time of year has a mean minimum temperature of 9 degrees, well below Townsville’s minimum (a balmy 20.7 degrees).
Or perhaps it’s the arduous travel schedule the team must endure just to get to Melbourne.
The Cowboys have been forced to catch two flights and travel over 2400kms for the grand final qualifier.
On Thursday they will spend five hours in the air and during a stopover in Brisbane – hardly an ideal preparation two days before one of the biggest games of the year.
“Melbourne’s known as a tough road trip away for any team,” Taumalolo said.
“It’ll be a hard game but we’re looking forward to turning up for the occasion.”
Alex L
Roar Rookie
You think their last trip to Melbourne was close? It was 14-0 until junk time, and even then it was only 14-6.
Barick
Guest
saying something is a hurdle is not an excuse? it is a problem or difficulty that must be overcome ... and I don't know what you think heat is, we are still in winter here, it is glorious weather, it is the reason you mob down there come up in the troves to escape the f'n cold in Melb?
Richard Maybury
Guest
So Cronulla's trip and game in the heat last week had no effect but the cowboys are trotting out the excuses already. Bodes well for a storm win.
Angus McCaskill
Guest
Storm v Bronco's GF...both teams will be firing after 2 weeks off!!!
Joe
Roar Rookie
The travel is daunting for sure but I think this Cowboys team can win considering how close they got just a couple of weeks ago and missing Michael Morgan and Tamou. Now with the Storm unlikely to have Koroibete I think the odds as shown by the bookies have tilted right towards the Cowboys for an upset. I still have hope for the Storm though, they are September specialists and Bellamy is a genius at getting the lesser lights to play to their absolute potential which will be what is required to beat this red hot Cows team. If there was any team I wouldn't get too upset about losing to its the Cowboys and if they do win I hope they take out the premiership as well.
Barick
Guest
The Cows are used to long travel, just as their fans are, the conditions are the hurdle ...