North Queensland coach Neil Henry says the Cowboys’ qualification for the NRL finals will do nothing to extend his tenure at the club.
Henry and his squad have done their best to leave egg on the faces of the Cowboys board who in July told the long-serving mentor he would not be seeing out the final year of his contract in 2014.
Since that decision was made – after the Cowboys’ finals hopes seemingly ended with an 18-16 loss to Brisbane – Henry’s men have gone undefeated, Saturday night’s 50-22 thumping of Wests Tigers completing a remarkable surge into the top eight.
But Henry, who has been linked with roles at both Gold Coast and Canberra, told ABC Radio that will not reverse the call to get rid of him.
“I think it’s off the table,” Henry said of a possible Cowboys return.
“They’ve canvassed a number of potential coaches, I think they’re in the process of shortlisting that down and the having further interviews.
“I’m down the track with some possibilities for me.
“I’m pretty resigned to the fact (that I’m leaving).
“I’ve had a bit of support up here and at the club last night which I’m grateful for, but I think the club are looking for a change in direction and I don’t think that will change.”
For now though Henry is just focused on what some critics believe could be a giant-killing run through the finals, with the past month and a half providing the perfect warm-up for sudden-death football.
“It’s been a bit of a ride hasn’t it the last six weeks,” Henry said.
“Our season’s been on a knife edge since way back from that Souths game (in round 21), to the boys’ credit they’ve been able to back it up each week so far.”
And there is a major boost for the Cowboys ahead of their elimination final, with co-captain Matt Scott set to make a surprise return.
Scott, who had surgery on a broken finger last Monday, was expected to miss the first two weeks of the finals, but Henry likes his chances of being in the side next weekend.
“He certainly had the splint off most of the game (on Saturday night) and he was working it on the sideline,” Henry said.
“He has a fair range of movement, it’s whether or not his strength’s going to be there.
“I’m thinking we’re going to find it very difficult for him not to play come next week.
“I’m fairly positive he’ll be fine.”
