Tariq Sims has been promoted to the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys’ starting forward pack for the round three NRL clash with the NZ Warriors at 1300SMILES Stadium on Saturday night.
The 24-year-old forward was rewarded for a strong performance in last week’s 16-12 loss to Brisbane, which included 127 metres in 13 hit-ups with six tackle busts and 22 tackles.
It's the first time he will be in the Cowboys’ starting forward pack since round 17 last season when North Queensland lost to Canberra.
With Sims in the number 13 jersey, Glenn Hall returns to the interchange bench in the only change to the team that lost to the Broncos.
North Queensland come into round three with a 1-1 win-loss record, while the Warriors will be desperate to break through for a victory after back-to-back defeats against Parramatta and St George Illawarra.
It’s the New Zealanders’ first visit to North Queensland since round 23 in 2012.
North Queensland Toyota Cowboys v NZ Warriors
Round 3, 2014 Telstra Premiership
8pm, Saturday 22 March, 1300SMILES Stadium
1 Michael Morgan
2 Kyle Feldt
3 Brent Tate
4 Kane Linnett
5 Antonio Winterstein
6 Johnathan Thurston (c)
7 Robert Lui
8 Matt Scott (c)
9 Ray Thompson
10 James Tamou
11 Gavin Cooper
12 Jason Taumalolo
13 Tariq Sims
Interchange:
14 Rory Kostjasyn
15 Glenn Hall
16 Ashton Sims
17 Scott Bolton
Coach: Paul Green
