Representative duties for his players have forced NYC coach Todd Payten to make several changes to his North Queensland Toyota Cowboys under-20s team to take on the Dragons this Saturday.
After downing the Sharks 56-10 at 1300SMILES Stadium in round 16, the young Cowboys remain in second spot on the NYC ladder with 11 wins, three losses and a draw.
They are equal with Brisbane on 25 competition points, but sit above the Broncos with a one-point advantage in points differential.
Centre Conor Carey, winger Gideon Mosby and back-rower Coen Hess have all been named in the Queensland under-20s team to play in the State of Origin curtain-raiser at Suncorp Stadium on 8 July.
Hess has been playing in the Intrust Super Cup in recent weeks, but Mosby and Carey will have their positions filled in the game against the Dragons by Jesse Pomare-Anderson and Temone Power, who moves from the back row.
Kyle Laybutt has been named at five-eighth after impressing in the big win over the Sharks, while Jordan Kenworthy comes into lock for Kieran Quabba who fills Power’s second-row spot.
Hooker Andrew Niemoeller was named as Queensland under-20s 18th man but will play for the Cowboys this Saturday before linking up with the young Maroons in Brisbane.
Brandon Smith has been named on an extended bench after a lengthy ankle-injury layoff.
North Queensland Toyota Cowboys v St George Illawarra Dragons NYC
3.10pm, Saturday 4 July, WIN Stadium
1.Ty Carucci
2. Jesse Pomare-Anderson
3. Akeripa Tia Kilifi
4. Temone Power
5. Scott Schulte
6. Kyle Laybutt
7. Cooper Bambling
8. Braden Uele
9. Andrew Niemoeller
10. Ross Bella
11. Kieran Quabba (c)
12. Bill Cullen
13. Jordan Kenworthy (c)
Interchange:
14. Trey Kemp
15. Mitch Dunn
16. David Munro
17. Viliame Kikau
18. Brandon Smith
Coach: Todd Payten