Cowboys go with Martin in five-eighth role

Cowboys playmaker Te Maire Martin has won the race for the club’s fiveeighth spot over Jake Clifford, having been named to start in Saturday’s season-opener against the Dragons.

Martin will play alongside newly minted Cowboys captain Michael Morgan in the team unveiled by Cowboys coach Paul Green, who has also named Nene MacDonald in his side despite the former Dragon facing a one-match penalty for missing a recent training session.

Clifford and Martin shared game time in the Cowboys’ two trial matches but Green has opted for Martin’s 48 games of NRL experience.

Martin and Morgan also formed an impressive halves combination during the Cowboys’ against-the-odds run to the 2017 grand final without Johnathan Thurston.

“They played a bit of footy together through that year so hopefully that will help,” Green said.

“Jake’s progressing nicely but he still just has to get a bit more consistency at NRL level, but there’s not much between them. It’s good healthy competition, which I’ve said all pre-season.”

After scoring a try and making some strong carries for feeder club Northern Pride in the Queensland Cup last weekend, MacDonald takes his place in a Cowboys backline missing centre Kyle Feldt (groin strain).

Former Broncos centre Tom Opacic also earned a start in the backline along with Javid Bowen and Jordan Kahu, who as expected was named at fullback.

In the forwards, Green handed props Matt Scott and Jordan McLean starting roles ahead of fellow Test forward Josh McGuire, who was named on the bench alongside Mitch Dunn, Josh Asiata and Francis Molo. Clifford is a reserve.