With the team heading up to Townsville on Thursday morning joint-captain Jeremy Smith was hopeful of recovering from a biceps injury in time to take the field.
The knock was picked up against the Wests Tigers in Round 12 and Smith subsequently missed the game against the Eels on Monday, but the experienced forward’s recovery since then has given him hope.
“I’ve got a test tomorrow. It’s feeling pretty good at the moment but I haven’t done any contact on it yet,” he said in a press conference on Thursday.
“I’m an 80 percent chance I reckon, so the big test will be tomorrow (in the Captain’s Run).”
While the red and blues lost against the Eels in Round 12, Smith was impressed with the attitude and effort on display.
“After last week’s effort I think we’re on the improvement,” he said.
“We’ve only trained once this week, so everyone is still getting over their soreness and whatnot.”
Smith is under no illusions that the game against the Cowboys will be any easier, even with four of their players returning from Origin likely to be fatigued.
“They’re the team to beat at the moment. They’re leaps and bounds above other teams and it’s going to be a tough ask for us, but if we can stick to our processes I think we’re in with a show.”
