Teammates have had to rally around Jake Granville after the North Queensland rake beat himself up over conceding a last gasp penalty that cost the Cowboys a vital NRL win.
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But North Queensland have backed Granville to be in the right mindset to pass his looming Maroons State of Origin audition - the Cowboys' Friday night clash with Cameron Smith's Melbourne.
North Queensland forward Corey Jensen admitted Granville was a mess after the Cowboys' heartbreaking 20-19 loss to South Sydney last week.
The home side looked set to secure just their fourth win of 2018 in their round 11 clash with the Rabbitohs before disaster struck in the dying moments.
An off-side Granville was penalised right in front of the posts, gifting South Sydney an 80th minute match-winning goal.
"You couldn't lose in a worse way I guess," Jensen said.
"Jake was devastated obviously ... he would have been close to tears.
"We did rally around him after the game."
Jensen said Granville had bounced back at training and was ready to put his hand up for Queensland selection when he lines up against the man he hopes to replace - Storm rake Smith.
The race for the Queensland No.9 jersey is on after Maroons skipper Smith's shock representative retirement announcement last week.
Granville is vying with Brisbane's Andrew McCullough and Sydney Roosters' Jake Friend for the Maroons hooker nod.
"Spirits were down after the game and understandably so but we are ready to take on the Storm," Jensen said.
"I will guarantee he (Granville) will come back and play a blinder against the Storm."
Cowboys coach Paul Green admitted last round's loss had been a test of character for second last North Queensland (3-8 record).
"For 79 minutes and 59 seconds we were the better side (against South Sydney) but it was still not good enough to get the win," Green said.
"It was pretty gut wrenching. I said to them 'if you could think of a way to really test our character and resolve that was probably it'.
"But there is no point feeling sorry for yourselves.
"We need to learn from that, be better next week.
"We left with a pretty sour taste in the mouth but we have to remember there were some huge steps in the right direction for us."
Australian Associated Press
