Paul Green has shown he knows what he’s doing.
His coaching years in succession Wynnum Manly premiers, Roosters assistant premiers, Cowboys prelims, Cowboys premiers, Cowboys semis then another grand final. He stuck with what was familiar is 2018 and they rarely played to potential.
I blame this mainly on him not realising the present shortcomings in his current squad. His resistance to deviate from a proven and successful formula despite all evidence indicating it was a lost cause worries me greatly.
The Cowboys have lost more topline talent from the ’20s and he has to acknowledge and change this before a Hasler-like quirk becomes the norm. Kalyn Ponga is a glaring loss but J Manu and (the biggest loss in my opinion) B Smith are just the top of the iceberg.
The Cowboys 2017 grand final has clouded his judgement and held him back from making shrewder selections calls. It was a brilliant team effort but LoLo and Michael Morgan carried the bulk of the side as JT and Scott had done in the past.
I think the world of Te Maire Martin but Jake Clifford is the best young half I’ve seen in a long time. He clearly has the cool head of a mature player but lacks subtlety as his ball playing can be robotic. Ash Taylor has all the skills but seems to take the wrong option and stifle play too regularly.
Both are exceptional but I feel Clifford dictates play to a defensive line so naturally. It’s a skill that’s rarely spoken about and difficult to learn let alone master. Players run off him with such ease which coaches drill into halves through structure. He falls in and out of structure effortlessly without the attack looking awkward, easy to say rare to see.
People regularly talk up young halves with Luke Brooks, Mitchell Moses, Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford all proving to be top line players but won’t threaten legend status. Ponga has already shown he doesn’t just belong in first grade he’s going to dominate. B Smith also looks like he’s playing a different game to others at times and Clifford is the same breed. For the Cowboys to lose three players of this calibre by not giving them a chance isn’t good enough. Half a coaches job is building the best squad and Green isn’t doing that.
T Martin played a pivotal part in the three-game finals streak but a full season of coaches scrutinising his play is a much tougher challenge. So Green can play it safe, or bank on building a dynasty. I can’t see a JT hangover because across the park the Cowboys are a far superior team.
Bringing in Jordan Mclean and Nene MacDonald shows Green knows what he’s doing and without the playmaking Ben Barba at the back Martin at 6 wasn’t a terrible move. With Jordan Kahu at the back having a pure ball playing half is crucial and he needs to show faith in the young bloke.
Martin as a utility/back up is a nice luxury to have but I feel if Green plays his cards right, NQ will be in the top four.
Rob
Guest
I'd love to be not up to NRL standard like O'neill and start in 159 games winning 61% scoring 67 tries over 8 years. Play in 15 finals games scoring 7 tries. Play in 3 GF. for 2 clubs, winning 2 and scoring in both. Win and score a double in a WCC win. Play 4 Origin games and win 50%. Play a couple of games for Australia. I'd love to be talented enough to play for my country at 19 like TTM. I'd love to be an unproven Clifford and be picked in Australia's PM team after 6 NRL games whilst also being MOM for both QLD and Australia in both under 20's Rep victories.
Snoop Bloggy blog
Roar Rookie
The reason was not because ones a better player but I believe a dynamic Hooker would benefit the side more in the short term. Clunky delivery was one of the 2018 seasons major concerns as was holes across the park in defence. A gun Hooker can help in both areas. I didn’t explain that at all in the article.
Fish
Guest
This myth about Coote being kept over Ponga just keeps going. Two things: 1. Pongas father wanted him to move on because they were asking more dollars then the Cowboys had at the time because 2. They still hadn’t signed Morgan who was also looking to double up on his salary, and rightly so. You can’t sign them all, and even though Ponga showed immense promise, he was still to prove it long term. In fact he is still to prove it long term. If they signed Ponga, chances were they might lose Morgan. Be great to have a crystal ball.
Albo
Roar Rookie
That's because they were massively overrated and failed badly last year. They were everyone's tip to win it in 2018. The best pack in the comp, they said ! JT was back after they made the GF without him in 2017. As it turned out, they had a shocker of a year. Their pack was belted by nearly every opposition pack , JT obviously went a year too long, and the Cows were lucky to avoid the spoon. They had some injuries , but which team didn't ? So in 2019 they have virtually the same pack ( plus McQuire) and no JT ? Why wouldn't people be a bit wary of overrating them ? On the subject of Clifford, I am a massive fan, and he would be the first halfback I would pick in the Cowboys side. He is their future star and they need to keep him wrapped up contractually. I assume they will play Morgan in the halves because of his experience and to keep him closer to the action particularly defensively. But I wouldn't be too upset if they played Martin as the other half with Clifford, and put Morgan at fullback where he had more room to move and chime in both sides of the ruck. I suspect their pack may improve on last year if they avoid injuries, and the addition of Maquire gives them some much needed mongrel. But they still have a few crocks like Scott & Asiata, and Hess lost all impact last year when Green turned him into an 80 minute trundler. Some new blood might help their cause. I see them as one of the teams battling for 8th spot this year.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
I must admit that little paragraph had me perplexed. Manu never played for the Cowboys in any form that I am aware of and Brandon Smith may be a very good football. But the answer to the question; who is the Cowboys biggest loss (in recent times)? is Ponga. It is Ponga every single time and it isn't even close. Clifford is a player with a tonne of potential and seems to have the potential to be very well rounded. Martin has a step and go and that is about it. So I agree with the premise and the need for it to be the Morgan/Clifford show from day 1.
Max power
Guest
Roosters ? Momirovski played 1 game You didn’t mention the Australian fullback Tedesco Tupou is an Ex origin player Ferguson was great and an ex kangaroo Cronk? Come off it
Max power
Guest
Rep players is a misnomer TMM is barely a NRL player O’Neill wouldn’t get a run at most other clubs Hampton is below average Clifford is unproven Kahu is below average as well Nene is decent Feldt can finish
Snoop Bloggy blog
Roar Rookie
I really like the way he plays, happy to shift the ball and take easy and safe options casually but will take a chance when he thinks it’s on.
Snoop Bloggy blog
Roar Rookie
I thought he did but must be mistaken. I wrote this article in 10 minutes off the top of my head, if you don’t get the sentiment that’s not my problem. I read an article last year that listed about 10 ex cowboys players who left and had success. Villiame Kikau is another.
Snoop Bloggy blog
Roar Rookie
I think the Cowboys are being totally underrated this year.
Snoop Bloggy blog
Roar Rookie
Yeah juggling salary cap couldn’t ever be simple but it seemed the knights caught them by surprise.
Larry1950
Guest
Roosters might have hurt sides from 7 to 1 in the GF but Manu improved late in the season, while Matterson, Aubusson & Momorovski wouldn't be classifies as strike backs and they all got time in that backline last year. It was all about the defence, Keary & Mitchell until Manu came good.
Larry1950
Guest
A few errors in your article but the underlying message is correct. Clifford is a quality half & plays with time that Te Mare Martin doesn't have. As an example, Qld junior state of origin teams generally play well but get beaten by more experienced & structured NSW teams but Clifford handed a good NSW squad a lesson last season, scoring tries & setting up a range of plays not usually seen at that level. With Kahu not having the brilliance of Barba, the Cowboys need Clifford alongside Morgan to give them options on both sides of the ruck, with Morgan being an outstanding running half and a big body that can confidently challenge the line.
Larry1950
Guest
3 R M
Guest
We haven't got pedigree strike centers like a number of the other sides but the halves and wingers make up for it .I wouldn't say we have the worst backs as there is a fair amount of rep quality players , Morgan, Kahu, Oniel and TMM at times in their careers have played tests.I also think Morgan will take the QLD no 7 this year and then strangely be under pressure for his club 7 jersey . Feldt Clifford & McDonald will probably play for Queensland in the future .When you look at the roosters backs they are formidable they'll hurt you from 7 to 1 but if the cowboys can hold there own defensively, possession will take it's toll in a lot of games. they look better than last year and there is an overload of competition for outside back positions. So yes we've got a good pack but the backs aren't as bad as you are implying Max .
Max power
Guest
Cowboys have the best pack but the worst back line in the NRL
Freddie
Guest
Valid article on some points but you lost me when wrote J Manu is cowboys biggest loss/mistake?? If you want to readers to respect your criticism get your facts correct! Simple internet search reveals J Manu has never played u20s for cowboys.
Jewboy
Guest
I agree....IMO Green should kickstart his new halves combination of Morgan and Clifford from the start of the season rather then play around with other combinations. Clifford has shown enough in the few games he has played that he has the potential to handle the next step up and will only get better with time and experience. If he and Morgan are to be the long term future of the Cowboys what a better time to start. Martin is a handy utility player but he is not the solution for the halves combination.
3 R M
Guest
Good piece SBB . There is so much extra pressure on the defence when a half demands at least two defenders whilst going to the line with runners either side , and Clifford does this as you said innately. The thing is I think he is a head of Martin now with only 6 games under his belt so how good will he be after 12 games or even 20 ?. His history shows he dominates each comp he plays in so you would expect he will be at least a good nrl player .Green has changed tack in my opinion this year with a slight change in the attacking set up with the number of first recievers taking pressure off the halves and the team looks fit. You would hope so as last year the attack was stale and the show of loyalty to a veteran underperforming squad was at times hard to comprehend, with so much talent sitting in the reserves at the time ,and when they did get the chance, they performed well. I don't think we will loose Clifford (heads would undoubtably roll) but a number number of others will be under threat of poaching . There is some good football IQ in that backline behind a very good pack, Morgan's kicking,with speed and size on the edge in the backs so we should push the strong teams and there is a lot of them . A couple of plays last night gave a glimpse of what's on offer for this year if Clifford plays, with him cutting up the middle in broken play combining with Morgan which was shut down and the wide backline shift for a try late, meat and taters stuff but it was done heads up.
peeeko
Roar Guru
All assuming clifford is as good as you say her is