He won't be able to lift his team into the finals but Cowboys enforcer Josh McGuire will be keen to make up for lost time in Saturday night's meeting with the Storm in Melbourne.
McGuire was rubbed out of the game for three weeks after being charged with contrary conduct in the Round 21 loss to the Broncos and coach Paul Green reckons the Queensland Origin rep wants to finish the season on a positive note.
In the only change to last week's team that beat the Bulldogs, McGuire has been named on the bench for the season-ending clash with the Storm, who clinched the minor premiership with a last Saturday's statement-making win over Manly.
“I think he wants to try and make up for it," Green said.
"He was just as disappointed as everyone else last time and he feels he let the team down.
“He's had a few weeks to think about it. I'd be surprised if he hasn’t changed his ways.
Try of the week: Round 24
“He just wants to get a good game under his belt before the season finishes.”
Green has named the same starting side from the previous week for one of the few times this season.
“We've had two good wins in a row and we're excited about going down there and playing a very good team, the form team in the comp so it’s a good test for us," he said.
Peter Hola has the chance to finish the year off on a high and push his case for a starting spot in 2020.
Green said he’s just one of many young players who’ll be fighting for a spot next season.
Tackle of the week: Round 24
“Pete's been really good," he said.
"He's learnt about what it takes to play NRL and he's handled it really well so far. To get these handful of NRL games at the end of the year has been good for him.
“Hopefully it'll fuel a bit of motivation for him through the pre-season and hit the ground running for us next year.
“There's an opportunity there for a couple of young guys. Tom Gilbert's had a really good year. That's what you want to see, that hunger in the off-season and see them fighting for that position."
Another young prospect is Bowen product Corey Jensen, who recently re-signed and will stay at the club for a further two years.
“It’s a great story," Green said.
"He came through our Q Cup system and we think he's got some potential there for us to be a good, consistent first grader, so that's why we signed him.”
Jordan Kahu remains off contract.
Green said “centre’s a position that we’re certainly looking at, so we’ll see.”
Jake Clifford has been named in the side after missing two games with an ankle injury, but Green will make a decision in due course.
