THE Cowboys’ bombshell selection of Matt Scott on an extended bench for Saturday night’s preliminary final has laced the build-up to their clash with the Roosters with intrigue, although coach Paul Green was careful to manage expectations when the team was announced.

Green was adamant the star prop, who has not played since round two, when he ruptured his ACL against the Broncos, will not play if the 17 who got the job done against the Eels get through the week unscathed.

Still, when there’s a name like ‘Matt Scott’ on the team list, it makes you wonder if there’s something more devious at play, especially given his track record in big games.

That’s not the case according to Michael Morgan, who told Triple M Brisbane’s Marto, Ed and Robin for Breakfast the coach had been pressured into the left-field call by the desperation of his club co-captain to get back onto the field.

Round 20

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“I think he’s been putting the pressure on Greeny, saying that he wants to play,” Morgan revealed.

“It’s still a bit early, so Greeny to keep him happy I think said ‘look mate, if anything happens, we’ll consider it’, so yeah. It’d be nice.”

In Scott’s place, Scott Bolton, Shaun Fensom, John Asiata and Corey Jensen have done an outstanding job up front, while Jason Taumalolo has assumed the role of pack leader and torn the finals series to shreds.

Morgan said that was a result of the liberated feeling the club had been given by their stay of execution, with the Bulldogs breathing life into their campaign by beating the Dragons as the Cowboys prepared for Mad Monday.

That sense has given the Cowboys’ preparation a more relaxed feel, with Morgan admitting every player was savouring the road trips their eighth-placed finish had enforced.

“We were on the verge of getting together for a Mad Monday and next thing you know we were getting ready for a semi final,” Scott said.

“It all happened pretty quick I suppose and unexpectedly. We’ve just been enjoying a couple of weeks it’s been and that’s the biggest thing, just enjoying the second chance I suppose. We took the opportunity.

“ ... We’ve been on the road a fair bit, which a lot of people talk about makes it difficult, but for myself personally I’ve enjoyed being away with the team, we’ve been going down an extra day early each time too and we’ll be doing that again this week, so being able to spend some time with your good mates, yeah, it’s pretty fun.”

Matt Scott goes through a drill at training. Source: News Corp Australia

While Scott is an outside chance of a fairytale finals return in the next fortnight, the Cwoboys’ other injured star Johnathan Thurston is not.

Still, as is his way, the veteran has still had a profound impact on the club’s season, with vision of him cleaning up after his teammates following the win over the Eels leading to praise of his impact on the culture.

That’s not the only area he is helping out.

“It’s an unwritten thing, we always make sure the sheds are pretty tidy before we leave, whether it’s our mess, like strapping tape and ice bags and all that kind of thing that often just get left in the sheds for someone else to clean up,” Morgan said.

“As a team we just like to keep it pretty tidy and if guys like JT are doing it, it certainly sets the standard.

“ ... (Thurston’s) here every day, so I still see him every day, whether he’s training with the injured group or he comes into our video sessions.

“I think he’s started going to the coaching planning meetings as well, so we have a bit of a chat about what goes on in there.

“He’s been good for me, he’s always trying to give me tips on my game and ideas about how I feel about certain players and all that kind of thing, so it’s good. Keeps challenging me I suppose.”