Townsville's devastating floods have left North Queensland coach Paul Green unsure if his team is fully ready for their NRL season opener.
Green admits the floods cost him a crucial two-weeks on the training track in the Cowboys' pre-season.
Combined with the sacking of star recruit Ben Barba, it's left the premiership-winning coach uncertain if his team is set for their round one clash with St George Illawarra on March 16.
"I'm not sure is probably the honest answer," Green said when asked if his team were ready.
"We did basically lose two weeks of training and the timing of it was probably the most important thing there.
"Part of our plan for that period was to really focus in on a lot of that team stuff. So not only did we lose a key player, we just weren't able to train. That's what made it the most difficult."
Green says losing Barba, who had his contract terminated after an alleged assault on his partner outside Townsville's casino, couldn't have come at a worse time from a preparation point of view.
The club has since acquired former Brisbane player Jordan Kahu with the New Zealand international set to start in the No.1 jersey against the Broncos.
Green says Kahu's experience should provide a fairly seamless transition into the Cowboys' setup.
"He's got experience ... he's played in some big games before and that gives you confidence," Green said of the 28-year-old.
"You know that he knows what to expect and he's not going to be overawed by it."
The Cowboys are also yet to name their captain for 2019 with that announcement to be made on Friday, Green said.
Rampaging prop Jason Taumalolo, halfback Michael Morgan and second rower Gavin Cooper are the leading contenders for the role.
