Scott ready to toast Cowboys' success

Avoiding a celebratory beer has been the hardest part of backing up for Queensland prop Matt Scott ahead of North Queensland's NRL clash with Wests Tigers on Sunday.

The Cowboys co-captain emerged from Queensland's 18-10 win over NSW with no trouble from a foot injury that has bothered him this year.

Then there was enduring a flight from Melbourne to Townsville and then back to Sydney for this weekend's Wests Tigers game.

However, Scott reckons that pales in comparison to the battle he faced after the Maroons took the first step toward sealing a seventh straight Origin series.

"I was trying to keep away from the Fourex cans and making sure I did everything right to get myself ready for Sunday," Scott said on Friday.

"The foot pulled up really well.

"I was a bit concerned how it would come through the game but I am 100 per cent sure I will be there on Sunday."

And there will be no respite at Campbelltown when he lines up against Blues forwards-in-waiting Keith Galloway and NSW's 18th man Aaron Woods.

But at least he will have James Tamou by his side - unlike Wednesday night.

Scott was kept honest by a barnstorming Tamou who made 96 metres and 22 tackles in just 42 minutes on Origin debut for NSW.

In a scary thought, Scott expected Tamou to get even better after tasting Origin.

"No doubt he will pick up. From my experience after my first game the amount you learn just from being in camp and having to step up to that next level will do him wonders," he said.

"He's been going well enough for us but I am sure there is room for improvement there.

"I thought he was one of their most effective forwards. I was surprised he didn't get a bit more time."

North Queensland's other Origin stars - Johnathan Thurston and Brent Tate - will also back up as the Cowboys look to extend their three-game winning streak.

A last-round win over Penrith without their Origin contingent and an encouraging road record have North Queensland primed to end Wests Tigers' four-game run.

The only blemish on the Cowboys' away record was the narrow round-eight loss to South Sydney - and they haven't lost a game since.

Meanwhile, forward Glenn Hall has re-signed for another season adding momentum to a retention drive that has also included the signatures of Ashton Sims, Gavin Cooper and Ray Thompson.