Cowboys back Fire quest

JCU Townsville Fire ambassadors Michael Morgan and Glenn Hall have backed the club to win a third WNBL title in four years.

Earlier today, the NRL premiership winners were on hand at Townsville Stadium to see the Fire be put through their paces, just three days out from the opening game of the best-of-three Grand Final series.

While Morgan and the Cowboys were on the wrong side of the NRL decider in September, the reigning Dally M Halfback of the Year, who recently led Australia to glory at the Rugby League World Cup, said there was little advice that he could lend to a team that had reach their fifth Grand Final since 2012/13.

“To be in another Grand final for them is a huge achievement,” Morgan said.

“I heard Micaela (Cocks) have a little bit of a stab at us before, but it would be great to see them win it.

“It’s good for Townsville, it’s good for them as a brand and it’s good for the club. They’ve created a very good legacy over the past four or five years now and they will want to keep building on that and I hope they can.

“There’s not much point in me giving them a talk – I just lost a (NRL) Grand Final – but they’ve been here enough to know what it takes and what they have to do, so hopefully they go well.”

Nearing the completion of his fourth year as an ambassador, Hall, who now oversees the next generation of Cowboys following his NRL retirement, remains a staunch supporter of the Fire since crossing from Manly.

“It’s a testament to all involved in the Fire,” Hall said.

“From the office to the girls on the court and the hard work that they put in here.

“Especially this year with the condensed season, it is made everything that much harder…it’s a good reward for everybody involved.”

In addition to Morgan and Hall, a number of other Cowboys are expected to be in attendance on Saturday including Cocks’ long-term partner, Sam Hoare, cheering the Fire home.

The Fire host the Melbourne Boomers from 6.30pm at Townsville Stadium on Saturday night.

Click here to pre-purchase tickets to the opening Grand Final.