North Queensland Toyota Cowboys coach Paul Green says his round 3 team to play the Broncos is the result of changes that had to be made after two losses from two starts in the opening rounds.
After more than a year on the sidelines, Lachlan Coote will debut at fullback at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Coote missed all of last season after sustaining a knee injury at the 2014 NRL Auckland Nines and has played only seven NRL games in two years, but has impressed coach Paul Green.
“I think he’ll add a little bit in attack for us once we get down our end of the field,” Green said.
“Positionally he’s played fullback most of his life so he’ll be fine in terms of defence and covering their kicks.”
The 24-year-old has worked hard to get back into the top grade and has his opportunity this week with Michael Morgan switching to the halves to partner Johnathan Thurston.
“I think we are better defensively with Morgo defending in the front line – he has a bigger body and makes good decisions,” Green said.
Despite his concussion in the first half of last week’s loss to the Newcastle Knights, Justin O’Neill has been named on the wing and will continue to undergo the rehabilitation for head knocks set down by the NRL.
The Broncos' match will also mark the 100th NRL game for centre Kane Linnett.
The 26-year-old made his first grade debut for the Roosters against Melbourne in 2010, before moving to Townsville two seasons later.
While for the Cowboys playmaker, the birth of Johnathan Thurston’s second child on Monday may have eased the weekend's disappointment for the co-captain.
“Having that distraction will be a pretty good thing, it's a pretty exciting time for his family and I reckon it’ll be a good thing for him,” Green said.
