Mclean to confront Canberra

JORDAN Mclean will make his return to the Cowboys lineup, in a telling boost ahead of Josh Hannay’s second game in charge of the side.

The North Queensland vice-captain has been missing with a calf injury, however he has trained strongly and will assume his place in the starting pack.

Hannay said the 28-yearold was too important to his team long term, and rushing him back before he was completely fit would have proven more detrimental to their 2020 prospects.

However, his inclusion means the in-form Francis Molo has been moved back to the bench, a decision the coach said was made difficult by his barnstorming performance against Manly.

“He’s been probably one of our best players all year, he’s really established himself now as a quality front rower in the competition,” Hannay said.

“But Jordan Mclean is a real key part of our side, there was no hesitation in putting Jordan back in the starting side — then who do you leave out, Josh Mcguire or Jason Taumalolo?

“(Mclean’s) probably been close for a couple of weeks, but he’s so important to us as a team that we wanted to err on the side of caution and make sure that when he was back he’d be 100 per cent.

“That’s the case, he’s been given the all clear and trained really strongly.”

Molo might have been given a late reprieve after Mcguire, who was originally named to start, failed to overtiurn a one-match suspension at the NRL judiciary last night.

Hannay also named skilful forward, John Asiata, as his 18th man, and he would give him every chance of taking the field against the Canberra Raiders.