Winning players are happy players, as evident by the smiles on the faces of Cowboys players as they returned to training on Tuesday.
Fresh off the club's triumph in the NRL Nines, the focus now shifts to the trials and the opening of their new home ground in Round 1.
For off-season recruit Reece Robson, Tuesday's session marked a shift in focus to Saturday's trial against Brisbane in Cairns.
"It was certainly a good weekend. I think all the boys were pretty happy today coming back to training," Robson said.
"We had a pretty good session out there today, switching back into the 13 v 13 swing of things, moving on to this weekend's trial against the Broncos."
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Sporting a cut over his eye, Robson said he was glad the squad made it home relatively unscathed.
Forward Josh McGuire was the only exception. He tore the medial meniscus in his left knee but should be back in time for round two.
"It was certainly a bit annoying [for Josh], mainly just the fact he didn't get to finish the tournament, but he was a big part of getting us to where we got to at the end there," Robson said.
Robson, who signed a four-year deal to join the Cowboys after two seasons at the Dragons, said the March 13 showdown with the Broncos at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on March 13 was a cause for great excitement.
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"It's obviously a good feeling in itself winning the Nines competition but its a completely different beast, I guess, playing 13 v 13," he said.
"Obviously everyone knows about the big rivalry between the Cowboys and the Broncos. I've grown up watching that sort of rivalry being from the Gold Coast.
"It will certainly be great to be part of that, even this weekend, even though it's only a trial.
"That's why you want to put your best foot forward and try and get in that round one derby against the Broncos."
A sold-out Barlow Park is expected to greet the Cowboys and Broncos in Saturday night's trial.
"We've got a pretty big base up there of good fans so it'll be good to spread that out among the community and hopefully we get a decent crowd," Robson said.
Cowboys fans should expect to see Robson and Jake Granville rotating through the No. 9 position throughout the trial.
"Its always a good platform to try and put your best foot forward for the round one side coming up against the Broncos," the 21-year-old Robson said.
"I'll be going out there trying to play the best I can and see what happens."
