Five things you need to know: Round 6

Author: Cowboys.com.au
Timestamp: Thu 18 Jun 2020, 02:01 PM

The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys travel to Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night to take on the Wests Tigers.

1. DESERVED DEBUT

Twenty-one-year-old winger Connelly Lemuelu will make his NRL debut against the club he starred in the under 20s for on Saturday night. Lemuelu is a product of renowned rugby league nursery Keebra Park State School. He joined the Wests Tigers after finishing school before moving to the Bulldogs in 2019. He joined the Cowboys prior to the 2020 season on the back of an outstanding season for the Bulldogs in the NSW Cup.

2. HAMMER TIME

After debuting on the wing against the Warriors in Round 5, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow moves to his preferred position of fullback this weekend with regular No.1 Valentine Holmes missing through an ankle injury. Tabuai-Fidow impressed in his first NRL appearance, throwing the final pass for two tries and saving another with a superb one-on-one tackle.

3. CHANGE UP

Cowboys head coach Paul Green has named a new look interchange bench for the Wests Tigers clash, with only second-rower Gavin Cooper remaining from last round. Middle forward Peter Hola is set to make his first NRL appearance of 2020, while fellow prop Corey Jensen returns for his first appearance since Round 1. Utility Ben Hampton also returns to the side after missing Round 5.

4. HEADING SOUTH

The Cowboys will make a rare trip to Campbelltown Stadium, with Saturday night’s fixture marking just their 11th visit since entering the competition in 1995. North Queensland have won five of their 10 previous encounters at the venue, including their most recent visit, a 22-14 triumph in 2017 courtesy of a Kyle Feldt double.

5. OLD MATES

Cowboys centre Esan Marsters will take on his old club this weekend. The 23-year-old made 61 appearances for the Tigers after debuting in 2017, scoring 17 tries and booting 96 goals. Marsters has been one of the Cowboys top metre-eaters during his maiden season in North Queensland, averaging 143 running metres and three tackle-breaks a game.