DUO TO STAR AT BARLOW
Cowboy co-captains to play comeback games in Cairns
IT’s official. North Queensland’s champion duo are back.
Inspirational co-captains Johnathan Thurston (left) and Matt Scott (right) will bury the pain of injury-riddled 2017 campaigns when they return to action for a trial against Wests Tigers tomorrow week in Cairns.
When Scott runs onto Barlow Park, it will have been 344 days since he snapped his ACL against the Broncos last year, while Thurston will return from the shoulder injury he suffered in Origin II last June. Cowboys coach Paul Green will take a safety-first approach with Scott and Thurston. The duo will play about 30 minutes against the Tigers as a prelude to Thurston’s NRL testimonial match against Cameron Smith’s Melbourne side six days later at Suncorp Stadium.
For Scott, it is the first step in a long road back to the NRL after the disappointment of being overlooked for selection for last October’s grand-final showdown with the Storm.
“It’s good to have them back,” Green said of his co-captains.
“Johnno and ‘Thumper’ (Scott) haven’t played much footy in the last little while and they wanted a hit out before that trial against Melbourne to blow out some cobwebs.
“Having them around training is really good.
“It’s added that level of experience and they will be glad to be back out there.”
Asked if Scott and Thurston would play half the game, Green said: “Not even that. They just want to get a hitout under their belts before the Melbourne (testimonial) game and round one, so probably 30 minutes or so, something like that.”
Green will field a strong team for the Tigers trial, with Kiwi Test pivot Te Maire Martin to partner Thurston in the halves.
Grand final prop Scott Bolton and hooker Jake Granville will join Scott in the engine room, while Ethan Lowe, Origin rookie Coen Hess and John Asiata will form a formidable back row.
In the backline, Ben Hampton will start at fullback, with Javid Bowen and speed machine Gideon-Gela Mosby to provide some strikepower for North Queensland.
First-choice fullback Lachlan Coote is sidelined with a minor hamstring complaint, while Green has rested veteran Gavin Cooper and Storm recruit Jordan McLean.
“The guys (who played in the World Cup for Australia and New Zealand last November) had a break; I want to get a bit more running into those World Cup guys at training,” Green said.
“There’s a number of Origin guys playing so there’s no excuse for the locals not to come to the game.”