North Queensland coach Neil Henry has bristled at suggestions his mid-year sacking has inspired a late-season form surge from North Queensland as they edge closer to an unlikely finals berth.
The Cowboys 22-10 win over the Gold Coast on Saturday pushed them up into 11th spot on the NRL ladder, just one win outside the top eight.
In circumstances that would have been unlikely a month ago, the Cowboys have emerged as playoffs possibles on the back of three straight wins for the first time this year over South Sydney, Penrith and the Titans.
The Cowboys' destiny lies in their own hands with their final three games against other two other top eight hopes Newcastle (at home), Cronulla (away) and the lowly Wests Tigers (home).
Three more wins would have the Cowboys on the magical 28 point mark for the season, the traditional threshold to secure a spot in the finals, with a far superior points differential to the teams around them.
When asked whether his sacking last month had released the pressure off the players, who had up until round 20 struggled to put together consistent performances, Henry said the talk was "going over old ground" and said there were plenty of other factors at play.
"Haven't we done this to death already?" Henry said.
"We keep looking for reasons we're playing good footy and let's just celebrate that the guys are playing good footy.
He said the rise of rookie winger Kyle Feldt, who has scored three tries in his first three NRL games, the improved performance of Ray Thompson at hooker and continuity in the halves were the big reasons for their last season surge.
"Combine that with our men up front doing their job and I think we could have had another three or four tries (against the Titans)," Henry said.
"There's areas of our games that we can get better at but the boys are working hard for each other and as long as we'll do that we'll turn up with a good chance of winning games.
"If we can keep doing that then we'll keep climbing up that ladder."
However star centre Brent Tate contradicted Henry's assertions his sacking hadn't inspired his troops.
"There has definitely been an attitude change with what has transpired at the club," he said post-game.
"The pressure valve has been released and the boys are enjoying themselves again."
Henry said he wasn't writing off a finals swansong with the club.
"Yeah, the finals are there but it's a still a long shot for us but our aim as a club is to finish as high up the ladder as we can and put our best performances out each week," he said.
"If we maintain that well who knows?"
