Utility Ray Thompson will return to National Rugby League action on Sunday when he partners co-captain Johnathan Thurston in the halves for the team’s Round 17 clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Cairns.
Thompson brought up his 100th club and NRL game and scored two tries in the team’s Round 13 win over the Knights at 1300SMILES Stadium earlier this month, but hurt his knee in that match and underwent minor surgery.
After three weeks in rehab, the 26-year-old will replace regular five-eighth Michael Morgan, who is out of action with a knee injury.
Cowboys second-rower Gavin Cooper will mark 150 club games at Sunday's match.
North Queensland Toyota Cowboys v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Round 17, 2016 NRL Telstra Premiership
4pm, Sunday 3 July, Barlow Park, Cairns
1. Lachlan Coote
2. Kyle Feldt
3. Justin O’Neill
4. Kane Linnett
5. Antonio Winterstein
6. Ray Thompson
7. Johnathan Thurston (c)
8. Matt Scott (c)
9. Jake Granville
10. James Tamou
11. Gavin Cooper
12. Ethan Lowe
13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange:
14. Rory Kostjasyn
15. John Asiata
16. Scott Bolton
17. Ben Hannant
Coach: Paul Green
