North Queensland Cowboys players Lachlan Coote and Jason Taumalolo are more than ready to return to footy this Friday against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Coote injured his calf in Round 2 against the Broncos, and Taumalolo was suspended for a shoulder charge in the same game.
The fullback and lock-forward lead from opposite ends of the field, but according to coach Paul Green both will be a welcome return to the side.
Speaking about Taumalolo, Green was hopeful that he would continue his excellent start to the season.
"He can't wait to get out here, he sort of feels he let the team down a little bit, not that we think that," Green said.
"He's been keen to get out there definitely so hopefully we'll see him take off where he left off before he got his suspension."
Taumalolo will bring his strong physicality to the side against a Rabbitohs team that will be looking to redeem themselves after being out-muscled against the Sydney Roosters last week.
"I think in any game in the NRL if you're not competing physically you're not going to be in the game," Green said.
"It doesn't matter who you play you need to turn up ready for that physical nature of the game and if you can do that from the start you'll give yourself a chance."
Lachlan Coote spoke about his own return, and is happy to have his fitness back to where it was before he was injured.
"It's awesome, good to be back… I've had two weeks off and I've got up to 100 per cent speed now so I'm pretty confident in it," Coote said.
"Hopefully I can go out there and bring that experience back and help the boys out as much as I can. Defensively we've been pretty poor… they're a big pack this week and we're all going to have to be on this week."
Defensive effort has been a focus for the Cowboys this week, after leaking 26 points to the Gold Coast Titans on the weekend.
"We know how to defend… it just comes down to attitude," Coote said.
"Making that extra effort and winning those tackles and making it easier at the back-end of the set. It just comes down to attitude and if we've got the right attitude we'll be sweet."
