Mahoney's 'Mongrel' Is Valuable, But Cowboys Need Strategy to Succeed

Reed Mahoney, the North Queensland recruit, has garnered praise for the grit he's added to the squad.

However, the determined hooker is eager to secure his first win with the Cowboys following a rough start to the season.

The Cowboys faced a 28-18 defeat against Newcastle in Las Vegas and endured a disappointing 44-16 loss to Wests Tigers the previous week.

On Sunday, they play their first home game against the Gold Coast, meeting yet another bottom-five team from last season.

Achieving a victory is crucial for igniting their season.

Last year, the Broncos showcased a remarkable ability to stage comebacks, thanks in part to the brilliance of fullback Reece Walsh.

They managed to win games after being down by 18 points once, bounced back twice from 16-point deficits, and even overturned a 10-point margin in the decisive match against the Storm.

Co-captain Tom Dearden emphasized the importance of correcting mistakes and improving discipline when facing the Titans.

He also expressed confidence in Mahoney's performance.

"Reed has been great. His competitive spirit and drive has rubbed off on the group. He has been a great help in huddles and brings that bit of mongrel that inspires the players," Dearden noted.

"Hopefully we can be more disciplined and build more pressure and we will really get to see what he can do."

Last week, the Cowboys accumulated 13 errors and missed 46 tackles, while Mahoney recorded 40 tackles, missing six.