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The man who shaped as the fall guy for a Matt Scott miracle admitted he would be reluctant to give up a grand final winner's ring if the Cowboys stun the Storm, but has campaigned for a shift in the protocol surrounding the premiers' bling.
Corey Jensen, who will play his maiden grand final after 16 games in his first year of NRL, was given the nod to play in the decider after Cowboys coach Paul Green said on Monday Scott would only be placed on stand-by for the game.
North Queensland's co-captain had been aiming to play a part in the decider if the Cowboys made it despite having not played since round two with a long-term knee injury.
But Green confirmed the Cowboys would be unchanged, barring any training mishaps.
The 23-year-old Jensen was cut by the Cowboys after playing for them in the National Youth Competition, but after three years of persevering in Queensland's Intrust Super Premiership, he has burst into the spotlight on the NRL's biggest stage.
And he has already been asked if he would part with a grand final ring - only the 17 players who take the field in the decider are presented with one - if the Cowboys' finals fairytale has one more successful chapter.
"I was asked the question about whether I should give it up and it's a hard one to say," Jensen said. "If I was to play and Thumper [Scott] had played all year and missed out on the grand final, for sure I would give it up after one game. But maybe I've earned it.
"I know [Johnathan] Thurston has mentored Te Maire [Martin] a lot in the halves, Thumper does the same with me and the young forwards. He does a lot of work you don't really see and behind the scenes work. There should be a reward for that.
"I've said before that if Scott was to play and come into the side and I was the one to miss out I completely understood. He's the co-captain, he's an international player and he's a great role model around this team. To be playing and part of the 17 is an unreal feeling. I can't wait to get out there."
Green quickly doused any further speculation about Scott's involvement with an impromptu press conference in Townsville before the Cowboys' grand final media day.
"As long as nothing happens injury-wise throughout the week, the same 17 will play on Sunday," Green said. "If that's not the case, if we were to have something go against us, as a forward option Matt would come into the frame there.
"But they're the guys that got us there, so they deserve to get the job done for us on the weekend."???
