Far North footy fans salivating over clash
Players jostle for position as state rivals shape up for Cairns trial game
IT’S the moment that many Far North Queensland footy fans have been waiting for.
In two days’ time, the North Queensland Cowboys and the Brisbane Broncos will do battle in a pre-season trial at Barlow Park, with Queensland’s biggest rivalry set to play out in our backyard for the first time in its history.
Excitement is building for the match, which brings the two NRL clubs with the largest supporter bases in the Far North region to Cairns, after both teams announced strong lineups would be taking the field.
The region’s footy faithful can expect to see a hotly contested affair, with the game shaping as a crucial opportunity for players on both sides to stake their claim for a spot in their club’s best 17 when the season kicks off proper.
The biggest question going into the trial match surrounds Valentine Holmes and how he might fare in his return to rugby league after a stint with NFL’s New York Jets.
A final call on his playing time will be made later this week, but Holmes is a certainty to play and is expected to be on the field for 50-60 minutes in what will be his first rugby league match since October 2018.
The Cowboys also have a big battle between Scott Drinkwater and Tully product Jake Clifford for the starting five-eighth spot. @CairnsSports
While both had good showings at the NRL Nines on the weekend, Drinkwater was outstanding across the tournament and seems to have a hold on the No.6 jersey for now.
Hooker Jake Granville is under pressure from new recruit Reece Robson and, along with Mackay product Reuben Cotter, the trio provide plenty of options in the No.9 jumper and an interesting tussle for a starting spot.
For the Broncos, it will be the first time the new halves pairing of Anthony Milford and Brodie Croft will take a field together.
All eyes will be on the pair after the club’s woes in the halves last season, with Croft coming to the club from the Melbourne Storm with big wraps and Milford fighting to keep his five-eighth jersey.
Meanwhile, Jack Bird is set to go head-to-head with Jamayne Isaako for the No.1 jersey, with Bird expected to start at fullback and Isaako to get his chance from the bench.
With Darius Boyd in line for a switch to left centre, there was uncertainty around what that would mean for Bird, who is returning after a knee reconstruction last season. However, Bird starred at fullback against the Capras last week.