Refreshed McLean ready to boost Cowboys title tilt
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After a shaking off the disappointment of a hamstring injury which denied him an Origin debut last month, Jordan McLean quickly turned his attention to the positives it could present for him back at NRL level with the Cowboys.
While many players will head into next month's finals series feeling the impacts of a long season, McLean said he will be refreshed from the forced time off.
Provided he gets through through training this week, the 31-year-old will return to the field against the Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday night, just over a month after he suffered the injury in the lead up to Origin III.
“Obviously it was unfortunate with the injury, but the past four weeks or so has been good just to I suppose have a mental break and refresh for the back end of the season,” McLean told NRL.com.
Once I stopped sulking about it, I looked at the positives and that was one of them. It's a long year in football and mentally it's just good to have a break.
Jordan McLean
“Physically you get some bumps and bruises [too], so it's good to have a break from that as well.”
The imminent return of McLean, who has averaged 116 metres and 22 tackles in his 16 games this year, will provide a further boost to North Queensland as they look to secure a place in the top four.
The Cowboys currently sit second on the ladder and have won seven of their last eight games.
Match: Roosters v Cowboys
Round 22 -
home Team
Roosters
8th Position
away Team
Cowboys
2nd Position
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
“I still don't think we've played our best football yet, which is a good thing because we are still winning games,” McLean said.
“We get to the back end of games and then back our fitness to put points on teams.
“We are at the top end of the table and we've just got to keep playing good football.”
McLean also paid tribute to the players who have stepped up for the club in recent weeks while they dealt with his absence, alongside that of Ruben Cotter, who also spent time out with a hamstring injury.
“I think the culture here at the Cowboys is definitely growing stronger and I think that is just built through the expectations that individuals have on each other,” McLean said
“If somebody comes in, the expectation is that he will do the job as well as the previous fella.
Match Highlights: Bulldogs v Cowboys
“The coaches drive that a little bit, but at the end of the day the players drive that as well.
“It’s built through the pre-season – guys like Tommy Gilbert, Reuben Cotter, big Hessy (Coen Hess) – you know what you’re going to get every time they take the field.
“It's a weight off your shoulders knowing that you don't need to worry about the fella beside you and that he'll get his job done.”
Having suffered one of their five defeats this year against the Roosters back in round four, the Cowboys will be eyeing a valuable road victory on Saturday which would ensure they remain at least one win clear of the third-placed Sharks.
