Cowboys coach Todd Payten has explained the reasoning behind leaving two fresh players on the bench for the duration of his side’s 18-16 win over the Knights.
In a performance Payten described as “brave”, the Cowboys eked out a win against an in-form Knights side without turning to bench players Mitchell Dunn and Tom Chester at all throughout the game.
On top of that, the Cowboys played with 12 on the field for 10 minutes when winger Murray Taulagi was sin binned for a late hit which Payten described as “not a smart decision.”
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Payten said a “plan” with returning prop Jordan McLean and an injury to star back rower Jeremiah Nanai upset the team’s regular interchange strategy.
“On medical advice with Jordan (McLean) coming back from a hamstring injury, we wanted shorter stints from him so we devised a plan to use him in four 15 minute stints at the start and end in each half,” Payten said.
“Miah’s (Jeremiah Nanai) injury late in the first half threw a cat among the pigeons. So when he was ready to come back on, that took Tommy Chester’s late interchange away.
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“And then with about seven to eight minutes to go, we had an opportunity to put Dunny (Mitchell Dunn) on but we just felt we needed out most experienced and best players out on the pitch.
“It never sits well with me but those two blokes understood and understand it’s about the team. They’re Cowboys.”
Fox League’s Cooper Cronk said post-game that Payten would have been “relieved”.
“It’s a huge call as a coach to leave two fresh guys when you need energy and leg speed to make your tackles towards the back end of the game,” Cronk said.
