By Michael Morgan, captain of the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys
BEING part of the Maroons camp was something special.
Obviously the way you finish the camp makes you look back on the week for better or for worse. The game is why you are there, and the result really makes or breaks the week.
It was great to get that result for Queensland in front of the home crowd. They are not easy games to win by any means, the way our forwards played in that second half was something else.
But I thought for majority of the first half we were in control as well. In terms of field position and possession we were in control.
We were positive heading in to the sheds. We knew if we could muscle up defensively and not be afraid to throw the ball around we were going to win.
There were a lot of great experiences from that camp, but none were as good as our day out at Charleville. The whole town came out to greet us, they had a public holiday and all the kids were let out of school for the visit.
Sometimes I think we get caught up with thinking we are just there because we play footy for a living and we are lucky enough to play for Queensland.
But when we go out to places like that, and we take a step back, you can see how much it means to the people of Queensland.
It reminds you of when you were a young kid and how much you believed in that Maroons jersey. It is another reminder of how important being in that team is.
I can’t wait to bring that winning attitude back to the Cowboys tonight as we aim to make it four-straight wins against Manly.
Coming off an Origin win your mindset is good, you are not dwelling on what might have been and I want to bring an energy back to club football.
Especially because this game is a celebration, a celebration of Reuben Cotter.
It really is an awesome moment. I am extremely happy for him. Sometimes young players come into the NRL and they have had a lot of luck on their side.
There are people who have had to work harder than others and he is certainly one. He has had faced all the setbacks that have been thrown at him and he has come back stronger.
It is a credit to him the way he has worked and how professional he has been. He is a student of the game, but he is also such a nice person.
I take motivation from him and what he has been through. It’s not hard to get that passion to win. I want to see him singing the team song loud and proud at the end of the game.
This article first appeared in the Townsville Bulletin.
