BY ADAM JOE

They lost by just seven points last weekend and we are only in round two of the NRL season but there is plenty riding on tonight’s fixture at ANZ Stadium for the North Queensland Cowboys and especially their coach Paul Green.

The Cowboys looked average for most of their opening round loss to the Brisbane Broncos in Townsville last Friday but dragged themselves back into it late to make the score respectable.

Channel Nine’s Phil Gould said the Cowboys were in a ‘really bad place’ in commentary.

“I think the Cowboys are in for a very, very long year,” Gould said after the game.

“They’ve got some real problems and I sort of thought that before the game but I thought the occasion might get them home.

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“But my worst fears were realised tonight, watching them, just the body language, watching the way the side functioned.

“I think they’ve got players out of position. I don’t think there are enough green shoots coming through in young players coming through a development pathway and striving to be a part of this team.

“I just think they look very pedestrian.

“I couldn’t see anything different from previous years and it can only get worse when that’s happening, and I think they’re in a really bad place at the moment.”

The Cowboys could bounce back tonight at Homebush.

Canterbury have been at the wrong end of the NRL table for a couple of years.

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But what if the Cowboys don’t bounce back tonight?

Critics are already banging on Green’s door.

It’s only round two but this is a big match for Paul Green.