League: Taylor's big bounce-back role in unlucky Townsville

Elijah Taylor. Photo / Getty Images

They've been told to forget about it, put it behind them, move on - all that stuff - but last week's meltdown against the Tigers will still be fresh in the minds of the Warriors as they look to snap a nine-year hoodoo against the Cowboys in Townsville tonight.

"It hurt, it really did," said Elijah Taylor, the forward tasked with filling injured Micheal Luck's boots.

A workhorse in the Luck mode with a bit more ball-playing ability thrown in, Taylor will be helping re-instil the confidence and belief in a defence that was ripped to pieces in a dramatic, calamitous final 15 minutes against the Tigers.

"It's definitely challenging mentally," Taylor said. "It was a massive kick in the guts. I struggled to deal with it because I had a whole lot of disbelief after the game.

"We threw away two points last weekend and I'm just hoping it doesn't hurt us. That was a game we definitely should have won."

As champion halfback Johnathan Thurston and rampaging prop Matt Scott return from Origin duty, the Cowboys will have the strikepower to pour on more pain if the Warriors can't regain their defensive intensity.

With Luck's 40-plus tackles per match expected to be absent for up to eight weeks, Taylor will have to pick up much of the slack.

"Everyone knows how hard he works in the middle of the field," he said. "But all the boys have got faith in me and I've got faith in myself."

Coach Ivan Cleary also expects his 21-year-old charge to be up to the job.

"I think [lock] is his natural position and he's probably as ready as you could hope for," Cleary said. "I'm not expecting him to be Lucky, I'm expecting him to be himself. I think he'll do a really good job."

Dairy Farmers stadium has been a graveyard for the Warriors, their last win in Townsville a 50-20 thrashing of the Cowboys in 2002. Since then the boot's been on the other foot - in their last two visits they were beaten 48-20 (2008) and 49-12 (2007).

Taylor isn't the only rookie with a big job to do. Halfback Shaun Johnson heads into the match having guided the team to two straight defeats, while wing Glen Fisiiahi will play just his fourth NRL match and first since injuring his knee in round five.

Cleary said he wasn't tempted to hold back the likes of Johnson and Fisiiahi, who scored a hat-trick last week for feeder club Auckland Vul-cans, for a less daunting assignment.

"I don't see any easy days, that's the problem with the NRL," Cleary said. "I've just gone for pretty much [the team] we think is going to give us the best chance. It's got a young feel to it and I think that's a positive thing. There's a bit of speed out there."

Fisiiahi's return sees Kristnan Inu shift to centre for the first time this season.

Cowboys v Warriors

Dairy Farmers Stadium, 7.30 tonight

Matthew Bowen
Ashley Graham
Ben Jones
Gavin Cooper
Kalifa Faifai Loa
Ray Thompson
J. Thurston
Matthew Scott
Aaron Payne
James Tamou
Tariq Sims
Scott Bolton
Dallas Johnson

Interchange: Michael Morgan, Joel Riethmuller, Ashton Sims, Leeson Ah Mau, Will Tupou (one to be omitted).

Kevin Locke
Glen Fisiiahi
Krisnan Inu
S. Mannering (c)
Manu Vatuvei
James Maloney
Shaun Johnson
Russell Packer
Aaron Heremaia
Jacob Lillyman
Feleti Mateo
Steve Rapira
Elijah Taylor

Interchange: Lance Hohaia, Jeremy Latimore, Ben Matulino, Lewis Brown.