Ahead of Saturday's season opener against the St George Illawarra Dragons at 1300SMILES Stadium, we look back at a previous historic match-up between the two sides.
North Queensland Toyota Cowboys head coach Graham Murray has made five changes ahead of Saturday night's clash against the St George Illawarra Dragons at Dairy Farmers Stadium (5:30pm).
Captain Paul Bowman returns to the centres to play just his second game of the season, while John Buttigieg and Glenn Morrison have been named in place of Jamie McDonald and Shane Muspratt.
Meanwhile, Murray has named exciting youngsters Aaron Payne and Simon Philips to make their debuts against the seventh-placed Dragons.
North Queensland Cowboys
1. Matt Bowen
2. Ty Williams
3. Matt Sing
4. Paul Bowman (c)
5. Simon Phillips
6. John Doyle
7. Nathan Fein
8. Jamie McDonald
9. George Gatis
10. John Buttigieg
11. Peter Jones
12. David Thompson
13. Glenn Morrison
15. Leigh McWilliams
16. Jaiman Lowe
17. Chris Muckert
19. Aaron Payne
St George Illawarra Dragons
1. Amos Roberts
2. Nathan Blacklock
3. Lee Hookey
4. Jason Hooper
5. Shane Laloata
6. Damien Bower
7. Willie Peters
8. Chris Leikvoll
9. Shane Millard
10. Luke Felsch
11. Justin Smith
12. Lance Thompson (c)
13. Nathan Tutt
14. Ben Ross
15. Jason Kent
17. Aaron Gorrell
19. Craig Stapleton
RESULT:
Cowboys - 40: Tries: Bowman 2, Gatis, Jones, Morrison, Sing, Williams. Goals: Morrison (6/7) d.
Dragons - 32: Tries: Gorrell, Hookey, Peters, Stapleton, Thompson, Tutt. Goals: Gorrell (3/4), Roberts (1/2).
