NYC changes with Kikau suspension

The Toyota Cowboys NYC squad have lost Fijian forward Viliame Kikau to suspension for the round five clash with the Newcastle Knights at 1300SMILES Stadium on Monday night.

Kikau was charged with a grade two dangerous tackle after being placed on report in North Queensland’s 36-34 win against the Gold Coast last night and will miss two matches after lodging an early guilty plea.

He faced three weeks on the sidelines from 325 penalty points had he challenged the charge and been found guilty at the judiciary.

With Kikau absent, Halvor Harris and David Munro will be the Cowboys’ starting front-rowers with Michael Barclay set to make his NYC debut off the interchange bench.

The former Australian Schoolboys and Australian Institute of Sport representative, who was school captain at Kirwan State High School, has been playing Townsville A-grade football for Brothers so far this season.

Newcastle are unbeaten after four rounds to sit on top of the under-20s ladder.

North Queensland Toyota Cowboys v Newcastle Knights NYC
4.45pm, Monday 7 April, 1300SMILES Stadium

1 Alex Grant
2 Hayden Crowley
3 Lenny Magey
4 Samsen O’Neill
5 Scott Schulte
6 Aaron Solari
7 Delayne Ashby
8 Halvor Harris
9 Josh Chudleigh
10 David Munro
11 Jack Kelleher (c)
12 Bill Cullen
13 Andrew Niemoeller

Interchange:
14 Dan Clarke
15 Corey Jensen
16 Jack Brock
17 Michael Barclay

Coach: Todd Wilson