Cowboys superstar Valentine Holmes will play fullback in his first rugby league match since 2018 against the Broncos at Barlow Park in Cairns on Saturday night.
After taking out the NRL Nines last weekend, North Queensland have selected a formidable squad with many round-one certainties.
Jason Taumalolo will back up from his damaging exploits in Perth, while the electric Scott Drinkwater has been named at five-eighth and Reece Robson at hooker.
Holmes, who spent last year on the New York Jets NFL practise squad, hasn't played league since he represented Australia in October 2018.
The Broncos will field a solid team including new halves pairing Anthony Milford and Brodie Croft. Jack Bird will go head-to-head with Jamayne Isaako for the fullback spot, with the former to start in the No.1 jersey and Isaako to begin on the bench.
Brisbane have another trial the day before their Cowboys clash against Intrust Super Cup team Wynnum but their top-line players have been reserved for the NRL opponents.
Match: Cowboys v Broncos
Round 2 -
home Team
Cowboys
away Team
Broncos
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Valentine HolmesFullback for Broncos is number 1 Jack Bird
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Murray TaulagiWinger for Broncos is number 2 Herbie Farnworth
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Justin O'NeillCentre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Dan RussellCentre for Broncos is number 4 Jesse Arthars
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Connelly LemueluWinger for Broncos is number 5 Xavier Coates
-
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Scott DrinkwaterFive-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Anthony Milford
-
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Jake CliffordHalfback for Broncos is number 7 Brodie Croft
Forwards
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Francis MoloProp for Broncos is number 8 Tevita Pangai Junior
-
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece RobsonHooker for Broncos is number 9 Jake Turpin
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jordan McLeanProp for Broncos is number 10 Payne Haas
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Coen Hess2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Alex Glenn
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Shane Wright2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Ethan Bullemor
-
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Jason TaumaloloLock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick Carrigan
Interchange
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Reuben CotterInterchange for Broncos is number 14 Jamayne Isaako
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Mitchell DunnInterchange for Broncos is number 15 Richard Kennar
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Corey JensenInterchange for Broncos is number 16 Tesi Niu
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Peter HolaInterchange for Broncos is number 17 Tom Dearden
Reserves
-
Reserve for Cowboys is number 18 Tom GilbertReserve for Broncos is number 18 Cory Paix
-
Reserve for Cowboys is number 19 Emry PereReserve for Broncos is number 19 Thomas Flegler
-
Reserve for Cowboys is number 20 Elijah AndersonReserve for Broncos is number 20 Joe Ofahengaue
-
Reserve for Cowboys is number 21 Daejarn AsiReserve for Broncos is number 21 Rhys Kennedy
-
Reserve for Cowboys is number 22 Aaron MooreReserve for Broncos is number 22 Jamil Hopoate
-
Reserve for Cowboys is number 23 Wiremu Greig
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Sutton
- Referee: Belinda Sharpe
- Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
Last updated:
The Rundown
Squads
North Queensland Cowboys: 1. Valentine Holmes 2. Murray Taulagi 3. Justin O’Neill 4. Dan Russell 5. Connelly Lemuelu 6. Scott Drinkwater 7. Jake Clifford 8. Francis Molo 9. Reece Robson 10. Jordan McLean 11. Coen Hess 12. Shane Wright 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Reuben Cotter 15. Mitch Dunn 16. Corey Jensen 17. Peter Hola 18. Tom Gilbert 19. Emry Pere 20. Elijah Anderson 21. Daejarn Asi
Brisbane Broncos: 1. Jack Bird 2. Herbie Farnworth 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Jesse Arthars 5. Xavier Coates 6. Anthony Milford 7. Brodie Croft 8. Tevita Pangai Jnr 9. Jake Turpin 10. Payne Haas 11.Alex Glenn (c) 12. Ethan Bullemor 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Jamayne Isaako 15. Richie Kennar 16. Tesi Niu 17. Tom Dearden 18. Cory Paix 19. Thomas Flegler 20. Joe Ofahengaue 21. Rhys Kennedy. 22. Jamil Hopoate
Casualty ward
North Queensland Cowboys: Josh McGuire is set for surgery after picking up an MCL injury at the Nines. He won't be available for the trials but should be right by round two. Centre Justin O'Neill is back after a long lay-off following a life-threatening spleen injury last season. Esan Marsters is on Maori All Stars duty.
Brisbane Broncos: Anthony Milford sustained a minor hamstring injury at the Nines but Brisbane have confirmed he's fine. Milford trained strongly on Tuesday and has been named to play at five-eighth this weekend. Captain Alex Glenn (hamstring) and winger Xavier Coates (leg tightness) missed the Nines but have both been named in the starting lineup for the Cairns trip. Jordan Kahu (shoulder), Sean O'Sullivan (knee) and Keenan Palasia (knee) have long-term injuries. Matt Lodge has suffered a partial ACL tear. David Fifita and Jordan Riki are on All Stars duty.
Match: Cowboys v Broncos
Round 2 -
home Team
Cowboys
away Team
Broncos
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Valentine HolmesFullback for Broncos is number 1 Jack Bird
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Murray TaulagiWinger for Broncos is number 2 Herbie Farnworth
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Justin O'NeillCentre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Dan RussellCentre for Broncos is number 4 Jesse Arthars
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Connelly LemueluWinger for Broncos is number 5 Xavier Coates
-
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Scott DrinkwaterFive-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Anthony Milford
-
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Jake CliffordHalfback for Broncos is number 7 Brodie Croft
Forwards
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Francis MoloProp for Broncos is number 8 Tevita Pangai Junior
-
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece RobsonHooker for Broncos is number 9 Jake Turpin
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jordan McLeanProp for Broncos is number 10 Payne Haas
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Coen Hess2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Alex Glenn
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Shane Wright2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Ethan Bullemor
-
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Jason TaumaloloLock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick Carrigan
Interchange
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Reuben CotterInterchange for Broncos is number 14 Jamayne Isaako
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Mitchell DunnInterchange for Broncos is number 15 Richard Kennar
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Corey JensenInterchange for Broncos is number 16 Tesi Niu
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Peter HolaInterchange for Broncos is number 17 Tom Dearden
Reserves
-
Reserve for Cowboys is number 18 Tom GilbertReserve for Broncos is number 18 Cory Paix
-
Reserve for Cowboys is number 19 Emry PereReserve for Broncos is number 19 Thomas Flegler
-
Reserve for Cowboys is number 20 Elijah AndersonReserve for Broncos is number 20 Joe Ofahengaue
-
Reserve for Cowboys is number 21 Daejarn AsiReserve for Broncos is number 21 Rhys Kennedy
-
Reserve for Cowboys is number 22 Aaron MooreReserve for Broncos is number 22 Jamil Hopoate
-
Reserve for Cowboys is number 23 Wiremu Greig
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Sutton
- Referee: Belinda Sharpe
- Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
Last updated:
The big question
North Queensland Cowboys: Who will partner Michael Morgan in the halves? Scott Drinkwater's sizzling Man of the Tournament performance at the Nines would have done his claims for the No.6 no harm but Jake Clifford is highly rated. With Morgan rested, Drinkwater and Clifford will audition while combining in Cairns.
Brisbane Broncos: How will the backline look come round one? Darius Boyd is set to switch to left centre, partnering Kotoni Staggs. That appeared to put Jack Bird in limbo but he shone at fullback last week against the Capras while Jamayne Isaako was below his best at the Nines. Corey Oates is guaranteed on one wing but the race is open on the other flank, with youngster Xavier Coates right in calculations.
