Young’s Jordan McLean is hoping to take more of a leadership role at the North Queensland Cowboys in 2019, in the absence of former captain Johnathan Thurston.
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In an interview with NRL.com, McLean said he expects a number of the squad’s players to be trying to lead by example.
He said he hopes “it comes naturally”, as he focuses on playing regularly footy and cementing a place in the Cowboys roster this season.
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McLean has won a World Cup with the Kangaroos, but the 27-year-old hasn’t experienced an origin berth.
He only played 10 games in 2018 after suffering an ankle injury against the Panthers in round four, however he returned in round 20 and finished the season as one of the Cowboys form players.
He was called into the Kangaroos squad for games against New Zealand and Tonga and he represented the Prime Minister’s XIII.
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McLean told NRL.com that NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler made it clear to emerging players of what’s required to get the call up.
“Hopefully throughout the year I can do my job, and if it leads to that [Origin] I'll be very happy,” he said.