Unheralded but super-effective North Queensland Toyota Cowboys centre Kane Linnett is looking forward to reuniting with his left-edge partner-in-crime Antonio Winterstein for Friday’s Queensland derby against the Broncos.
Linnett was strong in the team’s 20-16 Round 1 win over the Raiders but was without the injured Winterstein, whose sprained ankle wasn’t quite right for him to take the field.
But after a solid week of training, the veteran ex-Bronco returns to partner Linnett in the Cowboys backline, where they will mark slippery Broncos duo Jordan Kahu and James Roberts.
“It’ll be good to have Bones (Winterstein) back but in saying that, whoever lines up in that spot will do a good job … Jango (Javid Bowen) was impressive there last week,” Linnett said.
Linnett – who enjoyed a good off-season after playing for Scotland in last year’s Four Nations tournament – says marking the threatening Roberts will be a challenge to relish.
“He’s always dangerous, you have to be on your game defensively as he’s got that much speed, and he’s really strong too,” he said.
On the other side of the ruck will be Linnett’s former Cowboys teammate Tautau Moga, the powerful centre moving to the Broncos in the off-season after three seasons in Cowboys colours.
Moga has had a horror run with injuries, but Linnett is pleased to see him back playing good footy.
“He’ll play his natural game for them and it’s good to see him back out there playing footy,” said Linnett of Moga, who has played just two NRL games in close to two years and was Brisbane’s players’ player in their Round 1 win over the Sharks.
Friday’s night’s Queensland derby at Suncorp Stadium kicks off at 7.05pm.
