There will be no extra pressure on Corey Jensen to perform in the NRL grand final against Melbourne despite keeping North Queensland co-captain Matt Scott out of the side, coach Paul Green insists.
Bench forward Jensen faced a nervous wait as Green mulled over whether to green light Test prop Scott's return from what was supposed to be a season-ending knee injury against the Storm.
In his debut NRL season after a stellar Queensland Cup turn for Townsville, Jensen, 23, admits he would have been the one to have got the tap on the shoulder if Scott made a stunning grand final comeback.
"I would have completely understood," Jensen said.
"He's a great captain and player."
Instead Green opted to stick with the 17 who had defied the odds - and injuries - to be in sight of their second premiership in three years.
That included unsung hero Jensen, who has played 16 games in his maiden season including the last 14 straight, averaging 70m and 25 minutes a game.
In contrast, Scott is a 233-game veteran.
But Green said Jensen should not feel he had to do a Matt Scott impersonation in the season decider.
"There is no extra pressure on Corey because of that (keeping Scott out of side)," Green said.
"He just needs to do his job well and he has been doing that.
"He is a great example of the team.
"He has been getting better each week.
"I just need a bit more improvement next week, that is all he needs to worry about.
"Those are the guys that got us there so they deserve the chance to do the job for us on Sunday."
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