We’re not done yet: That’s the message from North Queensland despite their injury toll worsening with nearly a whole starting team’s worth of talent sidelined.
Michael Morgan (concussion), Justin O’Neill (elbow) and Lachlan Coote (ankle, leg) all suffered injuries in their gutsy 24-16 loss to Penrith on Saturday to add to an already crippling casualty list.
With Johnathan Thurston (shoulder), Matt Scott (knee), Patrick Kaufusi (foot), Josh Chudleigh (knee) and Ben Spina (bicep) gone for the season and Gavin Cooper (calf), Te Maire Martin (knee) and Antonio Winterstein (hamstring) watching from the stands, the Cowboys are missing 11 players from their first-grade squad.
O’Neill was distraught in the Pepper Stadium sheds and it was feared he had suffered a dislocated elbow, a potentially season-ending injury.
Morgan spent the entire second half on the sidelines and is no guarantee to take on Cronulla next week.
Coach Paul Green admitted he probably would have pulled Coote from the field had his bench not already been reduced to two men.
Green was forced to shuffle his line up and prop John Asiata finished the game in the halves while back-rowers Coen Hess and Ethan Lowe both spent time in the centres.
The Cowboys fell to eighth with the loss and it appears the injury toll is beginning to catch up with them but Green was adamant they weren’t a spent force following their gutsy showing against the Panthers.
“They didn’t roll over, they kept competing. I was really proud of the character,” Green said.
“We’ve shown plenty of times that while you’ve got that you’re a chance in any game you play. We’re not done yet.
“It just feels like there’s a few things going against us the last couple of weeks.
“There were plenty of guys playing out of position and three quarters into the game we still had a chance to win.”
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Rough night for the boys, but are showing a great deal of heart and commitment. 2 game ending injuries, 2 injuries suffered mid game and continuing on and 3 HIA tests at various times when we had a 2 man bench. Need these blokes to keep up the good work. Special mention to Bolton for playing very minute except when he cam off forhis HIA test and Lowe and Hess being our centres at one point. JT13 played hard and tough
steveng
Roar Rookie
You should be proud of the Cows, they were outstanding and should have won. That 'Hess' disallowed try, was a ‘dead set try’ the ball touched the turf, the bunker made another BS decision!!! Also, the ‘fend off’ by Zelezniak on Morgan (that put him out) should have been penalised, there was another late ‘flop stiff arm’ by Zelezniak on Granville and nothing was done, I think it was just before 1/2 time, that should have been penalised. Zelezniak is a dirty reckless player and the refs should have a close look at him whenever he tackles and runs. But consistency and discrepancies like that, are not the referees strong points.
Cald
Guest
Heartbreaking as a Cows supporter these last two weeks! We were well in the Penrith game and if Morgan doesn't get concussed I think we win. I think the game against Melbourne would have been much closer without those injuries either. We had such a good run without many injuries though the last couple of seasons so I guess we were 'due'. Upside is the effort from the team and commitment has been great without the most experienced guys being there compared to previous seasons, very promising for when JT and Scott retire soon.