Matt Scott says North Queensland believe they can emulate Parramatta’s magical run to the NRL grand final from eighth spot on the ladder.
The Cowboys, like the Eels’ 2009 side, looked dead and buried midway through the season but are the form team going into the finals after six straight victories.
Parramatta won seven of their last eight games to finish eighth and then toppled minor premiers St George Illawarra, Gold Coast and Canterbury before going down to Melbourne in the decider.
“It’s a great place to be at the moment,” Scott told AAP.
“Six weeks ago we thought we’d be having an early holiday so it’s great to have made the eight and we do have momentum coming into the finals.
“There’s a lot of similarities between us and what Parra did. They went on a run and that led to them playing with a lot of confidence, which is what we’re doing.
“If we can keep that going then who knows what can happen.”
Scott’s side face Cronulla in the opening elimination final of Saturday’s double-header at Allianz Stadium and the Queensland and Test prop is hopeful rather than confident he’ll be fit to play having undergone surgery to repair a broken finger last week.
“I’ve had a titanium plate with about six screws put in there, it is pretty solid. It’s just a matter of getting the movement back,” he said.
“At the moment I’m not too sure if I’ll be right. The surgeon said initially three weeks so that would mean missing out.
“But I’ll be doing everything I can to make it back early.”
The Cowboys’ upturn in form has coincided with the decision to show coach Neil Henry the door at the end of the season.
Scott said credit had to go to Henry for the manner in which he’s dealt with the situation and it wouldn’t have been possible for the team to have gone on the run without him.
“We’re probably playing with a bit more freedom because there is a bit of clarity now,” he said.
“There was lot of talk and rumours about the coach for next year and it was good to know a decision had been made and that has helped us play a bit better footy.
“But a large part of that reason is the way Neil’s handled it. If he hadn’t handled it as well as he did then we wouldn’t be where we are.”
Allianz Stadium hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Cowboys in recent years and their finals campaign had been brought to a halt by Manly in the last two seasons.
Scott admits he’s relieved to have avoided the Sea Eagles again but said the Sharks will present as many problems as Geoff Toovey’s side.
“The Sharks are playing some good footy and they’ll have Toddy Carney back in the side – they’ll be tough,” he said.
“The finals are a different competition altogether in terms of intensity and the fact you have to win or go home.
“We’re playing better than last year when we sorted fell into the finals.
“We also have a lot of guys who have played on the big stage before and there’s no doubt we have the squad to do well.”