Cowboys centre aims to build combinations

FOR the first time in three weeks Cowboys centre Justin O’Neill will be playing on the inside of the same winger for consecutive games.

He believes that could lead to an improved defensive performance against the Newcastle Knights.

Debutants Hamiso TabuaiFidow and Connelly Lemuelu played outside O’Neill against the Warriors and Tigers respectively in the past two rounds.

Today, with Valentine Holmes still sidelined, TabuaiFidow will hold on to the No.1 jersey and Lemuelu will get a second crack on the left flank.

Having started the season with Ben Hampton outside him, O’Neill admits the changing combinations can impact how players defend together.

But he said a more consistent team sheet could reap rewards as North Queensland attempted to resurrect their season this afternoon.

“It makes it a little bit disruptive – you have people coming in you haven’t defended with before,” O’Neill said.

“It definitely helps building combinations with people you’ve played with week in week out.

“You know what this person’s strengths and weaknesses are … I can see a positive in that.”

O’Neill has noticed the attitude and intensity heightening at training in the past week as the pressure mounts on the out-of-form team.

The 29-year-old said it was up to him and players such as Jason Taumalolo, Josh McGuire and Kyle Feldt to portray how a team picked themselves back up again.

“The change is going to come from when we step out on the field and I think we need to be leading by example,” he said. “That’s the best direction we can give as senior players.”