The Roosters looked like premiership contenders in their 32-18 win over North Queensland, but it was difficult to escape the feeling that the result didn’t mean all that much.
It did mean something, of course, because games between top-eight teams at this time of the season always do, and both the Tricolours and Cowboys aspire to greater heights than a Saturday afternoon match a month out from the semi-finals.
The entire sport is still processing Paul Green’s death earlier this week, but North Queensland and the Roosters have stronger links to the departed coach than most.
Aside from his playing days at both clubs, Green coached at the Roosters as part of their 2013 premiership before joining North Queensland the following season, where he made history and became a club legend.
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Nearly every single Cowboys player on the field played under Green. His roots run deep up Townsville way.
Jason Taumalolo grew into rugby league stardom under Green’s guidance, and there was palpable emotion in his voice after the match when he spoke about his former coach.
“There’s no real words to express what has happened over the past few days and how it has affected a lot of people in the rugby league community and families,” Taumalolo said.
“I can’t imagine what Amanda and the kids are going through.
“Everyone should have someone to talk to regardless of how big or small a problem is. No-one should have to carry that sort of pressure around with them.
“We have a tight-knit group and I know rugby league teams and NRL teams have their own group. I just hope that if anyone is going through anything they have someone they can talk to about any problems.
“I think everyone copes with loss and grief differently. I’m not sure about any of the other boys but everyone is affected differently.
“I’d like to think we are a tight-knit group and we are able to talk to each other, whether we go through a tough time or something really difficult. What has happened has really shocked and rattled most of us.
“It’s going to take some time to get over it.”
The tributes and commemorations will continue for Green as the game mourns a coach and former player and those who knew him grieve for a mentor, a husband, a son and a friend.
How can anything matter next to that?
North Queensland’s next home game, against the Warriors on Friday, is sure to be one of the most emotional nights in the club’s history.
Green’s death has impacted so many, but Cowboy hearts will be the heaviest.
The score, like it did on Saturday, won’t feel all that vital before and after the match. There’s so many more important things to think about.
Playing a game at all will be something of a gift.
It’s 80 minutes of a return to something closer to normality, where players and fans alike can pretend that tries and missed tackles and whether Matt Lodge held Griffin Neame in a scrum are the most important things in the world.
But those things left on the sideline are still there when the final whistle goes, and we all have to pick them up again.
That’s why it feels churlish and insensitive to talk about how North Queensland’s premiership campaign might be impacted, or question whether they were the real deal in the first place.
What the Cowboys and the entire game are dealing with is something more important, something from real life.
The footy is a distraction, and they will soldier on as best they can, but it doesn’t really matter right now.
There’s no answers on how to take it, no road map to follow. All anybody can do is try and deal with it as best they can.
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