kranks
Waterboy
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2007
- Messages
- 62
- Reaction score
- 5
WITH their season on life support, the hits kept coming for the Cowboys last night, with Broncos strike centre Israel Folau set to rejoin Brisbane's withering title push in Friday night's do-or-die derby in Townsville.
The Broncos could be bolstered by the return of both Folau and prop Joel Clinton, but the news is far from positive for the Cowboys with star fullback Matt Bowen (knee) and centre Ash Graham (foot) unlikely starters.
Folau remained on restricted duties at Brisbane training yesterday but is on track to return from the broken ankle he suffered in round 17.
"It's going all right but I'll have to see how it pulls up the next couple of days," Folau said. "After my run today, I'm still feeling pretty confident but in saying that, if it's not 100 per cent I'll sit out and make sure I'm right. The boys are going pretty good, so there's not a lot of pressure on me."
The Broncos surged back into premiership reckoning after they dismantled competition frontrunners St George Illawarra in Wollongong on Friday night.
A win against the Cowboys would all but secure an 18th consecutive finals appearance, something that appeared a forlorn hope less than a month ago.
The Cowboys are teetering on the verge of finals extinction after they squandered another golden chance against the Knights at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Saturday night.
Leading by 14 points at halftime, North Queensland imploded and coach Neil Henry admitted his side would need to dig deep if they were to corral the stampeding Broncos.
"It is going to be a big challenge for us," Henry said.
"The Broncos have found some form and we have a few guys battling."
Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston said his team was bitterly disappointed by its fadeout in Newcastle but had not given up on playing finals.
The Broncos could be bolstered by the return of both Folau and prop Joel Clinton, but the news is far from positive for the Cowboys with star fullback Matt Bowen (knee) and centre Ash Graham (foot) unlikely starters.
Folau remained on restricted duties at Brisbane training yesterday but is on track to return from the broken ankle he suffered in round 17.
"It's going all right but I'll have to see how it pulls up the next couple of days," Folau said. "After my run today, I'm still feeling pretty confident but in saying that, if it's not 100 per cent I'll sit out and make sure I'm right. The boys are going pretty good, so there's not a lot of pressure on me."
The Broncos surged back into premiership reckoning after they dismantled competition frontrunners St George Illawarra in Wollongong on Friday night.
A win against the Cowboys would all but secure an 18th consecutive finals appearance, something that appeared a forlorn hope less than a month ago.
The Cowboys are teetering on the verge of finals extinction after they squandered another golden chance against the Knights at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Saturday night.
Leading by 14 points at halftime, North Queensland imploded and coach Neil Henry admitted his side would need to dig deep if they were to corral the stampeding Broncos.
"It is going to be a big challenge for us," Henry said.
"The Broncos have found some form and we have a few guys battling."
Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston said his team was bitterly disappointed by its fadeout in Newcastle but had not given up on playing finals.
Nobody in that backline has done anything wrong to be dropped. Issy in the centres? Ummm, perhaps Winterstein in the centres instead. I dont know, have to see what Ivan does.
