Cowboys’ casualties set to take on Sharks

NORTH Queensland will not confirm its injury-hit Cowboys side for Saturday night’s crunch NRL clash with defending premier Cronulla until the last minute despite all but confirming two stars will play.

Cowboys coach Paul Green said medical staff were confident playmaker Te Maire Martin (knee) and fullback Lachlan Coote (ankle) would prove their fitness after naming the pair for a match they must win to stay in the top eight hunt.

However, Green said he would not know his final 17 until Coote and Martin complete their first full training session of the week on Friday. Eighth-placed North Queens-

land has a 12-strong injury list after forward Shaun Fensom (knee), Justin O’Neill (elbow) and Coote became the latest victims in last round’s loss to Penrith. The Cowboys are still sweating on scan results for O’Neill but he is expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks.

Kalyn Ponga has been named on the wing in a reshuffled Cowboys backline.

Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster will return from an ankle injury against Newcastle on Saturday.

Controversial Gold Coast fullback Jarryd Hayne (ankle) is considered “50-50” for tomorrow night’s clash with his ex-Parramatta side, which has welcomed back fullback Bevan French (hamstring).

Brisbane has named backup hooker Ben Hunt for Friday night’s clash with St George Illawarra after he was cleared of an arm injury suffered at training yesterday.