Powerful North Queensland Toyota Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt is ready to again roll up his sleeves against the Sea Eagles on Saturday after his barnstorming display in the round 2 thriller against the Broncos.
Feldt, 25, produced a fine all-around game in the golden-point epic with 182 running metres from 18 runs and eight tackle breaks, while he and right-edge partner Justin O’Neill combined to repel wave after wave of Brisbane attack late in the game.
He was a constant menace for Brisbane’s left-side defence and will be keen to repeat the imposing display against the Sea Eagles this weekend, but has acknowledged the toughness of the previous two matches, which both went into extra time.
“The body’s a bit sore as these past two games have been tougher than (the opening two games) in other seasons, but that’s footy,” Feldt said of the challenge ahead.
“You’ve just got to grin and bear it, bite down on the mouthguard and go again.”
Feldt, fellow winger Antonio Winterstein and fullback Lachlan Coote have been a regular fixture in the Cowboys’ back three for about 18 months, but injuries to Coote (calf) and Winterstein (arm) out of the Broncos match means the Townsville product willl be working with a new combination at the back as teenager Kalyn Ponga (fullback) and Javid Bowen (left wing) come into the team.
“KP is a good, confident player and he’s been around the team all through the pre-season as part of the NRL squad and Javid has played a fair bit of NRL now, so I’m confident that we’ll work well together,” Feldt said.
“It’s footy, so you do get injuries throughout the year and players come in and out and have to form different combinations and we’re going through that at the moment.”
Feldt will be marking exciting Manly winger Akuila Uate, the former Newcastle flyer finding a new home at Brookvale and impressing in his two outings for the winless Sea Eagles in 2017.
Former Cowboy Matthew Wright – who lost his regular Cowboys wing spot to Feldt late in 2015 during the team’s charge to a maiden premiership – has been named in an extended 21-man Sea Eagles squad.
The game kicks off at 8pm at 1300SMILES Stadium.
