The Toyota Cowboys have lost Ray Thompson to a hamstring injury for the round 16 NRL clash with South Sydney at 1300SMILES Stadium on Saturday night.
Thompson will be sidelined for two to three weeks after coming off midway through the first half of Monday night’s 36-28 loss to Newcastle at Hunter Stadium.
Robert Lui has been named in the No.6 jersey after coming off the interchange bench as the back-up dummy-half in recent weeks, including scoring a double against the Knights.
Johnathan Thurston, who will move to third on the Cowboys’ most NRL games list, has switched to No.7 while Anthony Mitchell is the new face on the interchange bench.
In the other change to Monday night’s team, Jason Taumalolo returns to the starting pack, switching roles with Glenn Hall.
Thompson’s injury leaves the Cowboys without a big chunk of their NRL squad with Matt Scott, Brent Tate, Gavin Cooper, Joel Riethmuller, Cameron King, Lachlan Coote and Patrick Kaufusi all unavailable for selection this week.
The Cowboys are now in 11th place on the NRL ladder, while the Rabbitohs are third after winning their last four matches.
North Queensland Toyota Cowboys v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Round 16, 2014 Telstra Premiership
7.30pm, Saturday 28 June, 1300SMILES Stadium
1 Michael Morgan
2 Curtis Rona
3 Matthew Wright
4 Kane Linnett
5 Antonio Winterstein
6 Robert Lui
7 Johnathan Thurston
8 Scott Bolton
9 Rory Kostjasyn
10 James Tamou
11 Ethan Lowe
12 Jason Taumalolo
13 Tariq Sims
Interchange:
14 Anthony Mitchell
15 Glenn Hall
16 Ashton Sims
17 John Asiata
Coach: Paul Green
