Blackhawks look to land Laybutt
THE Townsville Blackhawks are expecting to have five- eighth Kyle Laybutt available despite his travel to Canberra as part of an extended Cowboys’ squad.
Laybutt was named 18th man for North Queensland and travelled to the nation’s capital on Thursday, but could still return to Townsville as soon as today.
Blackhawks prop Daniel Beasley is also likely to play despite needing to pass late fitness tests after suffering a minor hamstring strain.
“Kyle’s availability will depend on his travel,” Blackhawks coach Kristian Woolf said.
“I think he’ll be a good chance of playing, it just depends on when he gets back, but we’ve prepared without him this week and we’ve trained with the guys who played last weekend.
“Kierran Moseley did a great job ( at five- eighth) last weekend and if Kyle’s not able to play Kierran will slot back in there.”
Norths have gone winless from their past six games but have quality personnel, including Broncos contracted utility Jai Arrow who has been named to play at lock.
It’s this type of quality that has Woolf on alert for Norths, despite their 52- 4 thumping at the hands of Mackay last weekend.
“It’s really up to us what happens,” Woolf said.
“If we’re playing at our best we win the game.
“So it really depends on our attitude and how we approach the game, and if we do it the right way and play really well we’ll get the result.
“If we think it’s going to come easy, we’re obviously a chance of getting our pants pulled down.”
Woolf has also praised the quick impact made by recent signing Jordan Drew, who will again play at centre after scoring two tries on his Blackhawks’ debut last weekend.
“We were able to sneak him in because Sam Foster was unable to play and there was a bit of an opening, and he did a really good job,” Woolf said.
“He defended really well. He ran nice and hard and he was on the end of a couple of really good moves to score some tries.
“He’s certainly shown his class and the value he will add to the team, and he’s going to be a very handy acquisition for us at the end of the year. He’s fit in really well throughout the week, he’s a good bloke and he’s got a tough attitude.”
Tomorrow’s kick- off at Jack Manski Oval is 3.30pm.