Scott may miss Tigers clash
ANTONY STEWART
July 17th, 2009
**BARNSTORMING prop Matt Scott is rated only a slim chance of being fit for Sunday's clash with the Wests Tigers after becoming the Cowboys' sole Origin casualty.**
The 24-year-old said he was desperate to back up at NRL level but **the likely confirmation of a grade one medial ligament tear today will almost certainly rule him out.**
It was better news for centre **Willie Tonga, who will have precautionary checks on a niggling hamstring strain, but is not expected to be in any doubt.**
Match-winning skipper Johnathan Thurston will also play after he took an early guilty plea to a dangerous conduct charge stemming from Wednesday's Origin defeat.
The Queensland trio were given yesterday's afternoon training with the Cowboys off to recover from the chaotic and bloody end to the interstate series.
Scott sustained his injury in the first half of the contest, but battled on bravely to finish the game with 85m from 11 runs, three tackle breaks and 13 tackles.
''He's in doubt for Sunday,'' North Queensland coach Neil Henry said yesterday.
**''If it is less than a grade one they can probably have him right in a week, but he doesn't have that amount of time, so we'll have to say he is in doubt.''**
Losing Scott, the NRL's No. 1 forward metre earner, would be a major blow for the Cowboys, who are also minus hooker Aaron Payne and back-rower Luke O'Donnell.
**Manase Manuokafoa, named as 18th man, would be the most likely replacement.**
Not that Scott won't give himself every possible chance to take on the Tigers in Sydney.
''It doesn't feel too serious, I went back out on it, so I could run on it all right, it's nothing too bad … I'll see how it settles down over the next couple of days and see how we go on Sunday,'' the Longreach Tigers junior said.
''I hate missing any games, so I want to play, but you have to think about the rest of the year and hopefully we've got finals to think about, so I'll see what the doc says and take it from there.''
After fears he may have been in line for a harsher punishment, Thurston's availability comes as a major relief as the Cowboys look to keep their top-four dreams alive.
The halfback's foot came in heavy contact with the head of NSW winger David Williams as he scored a try, leading to an eight-point try and him being placed on report.
Williams was left bleeding from the mouth.
But the match review committee viewed it as a minor offence, something Thurston predictably agreed with as he brushed it off as an accident.
''I thought I struck the ball, but when he stood up he had a bit of a bleeding nose and lip so, hopefully he's all right,'' he said.
''There was no intent at all, I wasn't striking for his head or anything, I was certainly trying to put my foot under the ball.''
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/07/17/64615_cowboys.html