Queensland under-18s representative Coen Hess is poised to make his return from injury for North Queensland’s NYC team against Cronulla at Remondis Stadium on Friday evening.
The back-rower has missed the Cowboys’ last two matches after injuring his ankle in the round 15 Monday night match against Newcastle at Hunter Stadium.
Hess’s return means mid-season signing Akeripa Tia Kilifi will start in the centres after making his Cowboys debut in the back-row a fortnight ago, pushing Conor Carey out to the wing.
Scott Schulte is the player who misses out on keeping his place in the squad of 17 following the last-start loss to St George Illawarra.
The Cowboys’ under-20s come into round 19 in 13th place, two positions ahead of the Sharks, six points out of the top eight.
NYC North Queensland Toyota Cowboys v Cronulla Sharks
5.20pm, Friday 18 July, Remondis Stadium
1 Yamba Bowie
2 Samsen O’Neill
3 Lenny Magey
4 Akeripa Tia Kilifi
5 Conor Carey
6 Delayne Ashby
7 Cooper Bambling
8 Viliame Kikau
9 Josh Chudleigh
10 Jack Kelleher (c)
11 Coen Hess
12 Corey Jensen
13 David Munro
Interchange:
14 Dan Clarke
15 Andrew Niemoeller
16 Kieran Quabba
17 Michael Barclay
Coach: Todd Wilson.
