Exciting young centre Javid Bowen gets another chance to impress on the big stage tonight, the Hope Vale product brought into the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys’ team to play the Gold Coast Titans in Round 13 National Rugby League action.
Both teams are returning to play after last weekend’s bye, with Bowen set to play his sixth match of the season – and 16th overall – as a late replacement for Queensland State of Origin centre Justin O’Neill, who was concussed in Wednesday’s series opener and will sit out Saturday’s club match under league protocols.
On Bowen, Cowboys head coach Paul Green said the 24-year-old had been playing well for the Northern Pride in the Queensland Cup and deserved his chance to make the step up once more.
“At this point in his development – where he’s going up and down in the grades – it’s important he shows some good consistency, which is part of the process for these guys not selected in the 17 each week,” Green said.
Injured co-captain Johnathan Thurston continues to recover from a shoulder complaint and won’t play, with Ray Thompson joining Michael Morgan in the halves, Morgan backing up from state duties where he played around 60 minutes.
Gavin Cooper will again captain the Cowboys, with kick-off at 7.30pm at 1300SMILES Stadium.
COWBOYS: 1. Lachlan Coote, 2. Kyle Feldt, 22. Javid Bowen, 4. Kane Linnett, 5. Antonio Winterstein, 6. Ray Thompson, 7. Michael Morgan, 8. John Asiata, 9. Jake Granville, 10. Scott Bolton, 11. Gavin Cooper (c), 12. Ethan Lowe, 13. Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: 14. Ben Hampton, 15. Coen Hess, 16. Shaun Fensom, 17. Ben Spina.
