Gavin Cooper will become the 37th player in premiership history to appear in 300 games when the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys lock horns with the Sydney Roosters on the Central Coast on Sunday.
Cooper is just the second player to celebrate the milestone as a member of the Cowboys, following long-time teammate Johnathan Thurston, who reached the 300-game mark in 2018.
A Cowboys life member, Cooper is in his 11th season in North Queensland and sits fifth in appearances and seventh for tries in club history.
Josh McGuire returns to the side after missing Round 15 through suspension and will line up in the front row alongside vice-captain Jordan McLean.
Fellow Queensland star Michael Morgan has also been named to back up from Origin and will partner Jake Clifford in the halves, while Javid Bowen replaces Enari Tuala on the wing.
Matt Scott has been named to make his return from a shoulder injury from the interchange, joining fellow forwards John Asiata, Scott Bolton and Francis Molo.
Coen Hess is also a chance of making an injury return of his own. The 22-year-old hasn’t played since picking up a knee complaint in Round 14, but has been named on the reserves for the Roosters showdown by Cowboys head coach Paul Green.
Hess is joined on the reserves by hooker Reuben Cotter, prop Corey Jensen and outside back Murray Taulagi.
Sunday’s game kicks off at 2pm.
Cowboys team to play Roosters:
1. Scott Drinkwater
2. Kyle Feldt
3. Jordan Kahu
4. Tom Opacic
5. Javid Bowen
6. Michael Morgan (C)
7. Jake Clifford
8. Josh McGuire
9. Jake Granville
10. Jordan McLean (VC)
11. Gavin Cooper
12. Shane Wright
13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange
14. John Asiata
15. Matt Scott
16. Scott Bolton
17. Francis Molo
Reserves
18. Coen Hess
19. Reuben Cotter
20. Corey Jensen
21. Murray Taulagi
