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Jordan McLean admits he owes a "massive" debt of gratitude to Melbourne as he prepares for his final game for the Storm – against the club that he will join in the off-season.

John Asiata has a newborn baby just three weeks old - and can't change her nappy. The Cowboys chief executive has been enlisted to take his boots off. But try telling the NRL's most versatile player a broken hand will stop a second grand final appearance in three years.

There's a million ways and maybe more into the magical bedtime story that is the Cowboys' tilt at this year's premiership — but it's hard to go past Te Maire Martin.

Johnathan Thurston says "I'll pack my boots" for Sunday's grand final, but North Queensland's best chance of a miracle injury comeback resides with teammate Matt Scott.

Te Maire Martin has knocked back Melbourne. Twice.

Michael Morgan has revealed a candid heart-to-heart with Cooper Cronk has been the catalyst for his stunning late season form which threatens to crash the Melbourne halfback's potential NRL grand final farewell.

Cowboys coach Paul Green refused to confirm if co-captain Matt Scott will make a stunning comeback in the grand final after more than six months on the sidelines following North Queensland's shock win over the Roosters.

• ANALYSIS

The Cowboys are the new Eels. Michael Morgan the new Jarryd Hayne. Fairytale story. How did they get here? How do they beat Melbourne? Well, history is repeating eight years on. And there's no asterisk this time.

And you thought North Queensland's last grand final appearance was a fairytale story.

A year ago, Shaun Fensom couldn't get a run for the Canberra Raiders in their NRL preliminary final.

The North Queensland Cowboys playmaker needs a few new descriptors as he takes bold strides in his NRL career.

Before Johnathan Thurston picked up rubbish and went viral, Paul Green was stacking chairs with one arm and carrying the other in a sling.

Why the Cowboys are always sold short, are the Roosters ready for an 80-minute rumble and exclusive never-before-seen detail into how they can stop Jason Taumalolo.

In an era where the NRL is blessed with some of the most gifted wingers the game has ever seen, Trent Robinson has been playing with none. And it's a tactic which has helped Latrell Mitchell and Blake Ferguson enormously during the finals series.

The Cowboys are out of sight but have the Sydney Roosters squarely in their sights as they prepare for another raid in their fairytale finals campaign.

Justin O'Neill admits his Cowboys teammates convinced him not to give up hope on playing a part in North Queensland's premiership push.

Te Maire Martin readily admits he can't see most of the things Johnathan Thurston sees on the football field.

Matt Scott has not played since rupturing his ACL in the second round against Brisbane in March and it appeared from that point his season was over.

Michael Morgan believes the absence of Johnathan Thurston has given him the opportunity to take his game to a level it may not have reached had his halves partner still been available.