South Sydney back-rower Ethan Lowe has rejected claims he this week leaked rumours that North Queensland coach Paul Green is on the verge of losing the Cowboys dressing room to the media.
Fairfax Media journalist Andrew Webster on Monday reported Green was on the nose with several Cowboys players after failing to meet his own standards.
The coach, who delivered the club’s maiden NRL premiership in 2015, met with the club’s leadership group on Tuesday morning and was assured the players were still behind him.
It then emerged that Cowboys officials believed a disgruntled ex-player was behind the attempt to destabilise the club, with multiple media outlets naming Lowe as the source.
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"I know what I've said to people and I haven't said anything like that - I don't know where it's come from,” Lowe told The Daily Telegraph.
"If he (Green) thinks it's me then he has my phone number, he can give me a call, but I think he should probably look closer to home.”
The 28-year-old made his NRL debut for the Cowboys in 2013 and was a key member of the 2015 premiership-winning side.
He fell out of favour in 2018, playing just 15 games in the top grade and was granted an early release to join Wayne Bennett’s Bunnies in February.
He has played all eight games off the bench for South Sydney since his switch and, courtesy of the rugby league Gods, will line up against the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium next Sunday.
Speaking after his side’s 28-14 win over the Gold Coast Titans on Friday night, Green would not be drawn when asked if the controversy added extra spice to the Round 9 clash against the Rabbitohs.
“Well when I arrived here tonight I managed to find the dressing room which was a good start to the night,” Green quipped.
“So I’m not too worried who or what said it, unless people put a name to it I’m not going to buy into it, it’s not worth worrying about.”
