Winger Kyle Feldt says he's ready to shake off a four-year-old nightmare if needed to take over the goalkicking from struggling maestro Johnathan Thurston in Sunday's NRL grand final.
With North Queensland skipper Thurston nursing a groin problem that has limited him to 65 per cent accuracy in the finals series, both Feldt and teammate Ethan Lowe have been working overtime to prepare for a kicking call-up against Brisbane at ANZ Stadium.
"Me and Ethan Lowe have been doing a fair bit of kicking practice with him after training, just in case he does pull up a bit sore and we'll have to take over. It's a possibility," Feldt told AAP.
"I don't mind the responsibility. I enjoy kicking."
Should he be handed the kicking tee, the 23-year-old will have the opportunity to put to bed the haunting memory of the 2011 under-20s grand final, when he hooked a relatively easy shot after the siren that would've given North Queensland its first national title.
Instead, the Warriors nailed a field goal three minutes into golden point to claim back-to-back under-20s premierships.
Feldt admits he is still reminded of the miss, but insists it will not bother him in the grand final.
"I get asked about it a fair few times, but it's gone," he said.
"It's hard trying to remember what happened because it was a long time ago."
Asked whether the constant reminders annoyed him, he said: "Not at all. I'm at the big one now."
Cowboys coach Paul Green confirmed Thurston would start the game as goalkicker, but was confident in the abilities of his back-ups.
"We've got a few options there.. Kyle Feldt and Ethan Lowe hit them alright," he said.
