League great’s timely advice for ‘tired’ North Queensland Cowboys

After a stellar campaign, the Cowboys are looking tired heading into the Finals – but a league great has given head coach Todd Payten timely advice.

North Queensland were outclassed on Saturday afternoon by a red-hot Roosters team, who lost 32-18 in their sixth loss of the season at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Players like Jeremiah Nanai, Coen Hess and Tom Gilbert all had quiet games for the Cowboys while their mistakes in the 80 minutes allowed the Tricolors to dominate the duel.

Speaking of SEN Breakfast with Vossy and Brandy, Matty Johns said that after a mammoth few months that included an Origin series, Payten should rest some of their younger players on the way to the finals.

“Cowboys look tired,” he said.

“A lot of the young guys in this roster have had a tough Origin campaign and you can see there’s just a little lag at the moment.

“It’s going to be a little difficult for Todd Payten over the next few weeks, he might be tempted to rest [some players].

“Give Nanai somewhere a week off, just give him some magic.

“I thought they looked a bit tired.”

Nanai, Gilbert, Murray Taulagi, Tom Dearden and Reuben Cotter all played for the Maroons for the first time in their early careers, while star center Valentine Holmes was also involved with the series.

Teenage sensation Nanai ran just 41 yards against the Roosters while Dearden had two penalties and an uncharacteristically unconvincing performance.

Storming legend Cameron Smith echoed Johns’ sentiments but also pointed to the rough week for the Cowboys following the death of former coach Paul Green as a possible reason for their underperforming outing.

“I wouldn’t say they hit the wall but they certainly haven’t been at their best in the past few weeks,” he said.

“I think it might just be a little hangover from Origin. A lot of these younger guys [it was] they’re really having to face the fact that they have to be in that seven week period for the first time – it takes so much away physically and mentally.

“When I get back to the NRL it will take a little bit to get going again.

“Let’s not forget that they struggled a bit in the week leading up to this game.

“I still think they can finish second – they have a huge game ahead of them to end the season against Penrith in the last round but I think they will do it.”

North Queensland will take on the Warriors, Rabbitohs and Panthers on the run-home but will likely need to win all three to retain second place on the ladder.