The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys Young Guns have named an 18-man squad to face the Mackay Cutters in a trial on Saturday evening at BB Print Stadium in Mackay.
The match will serve as a curtain raiser to the Cowboys NRL trial clash with the Broncos.
Rising stars Zac Laybutt, Robert Derby and Mia Pua’avase headline the Young Guns outfit boasting the Cowboys’ best emerging talents.
Laybutt scored a try and had another disallowed in the Cowboys’ NRL trial win against the Rabbitohs in Cairns last weekend.
The rangy outside back will form a dangerous centre pairing with Ragarive Wavik.
Derby has been named on the wing alongside first year Young Guns flyer Lewis Mene.
Australian Schoolboy Tom Duffy will partner Zack Lamont in the halves with Jodeci Baker to play fullback as he continues his recovery from a serious hamstring injury.
The forward pack contains some NRL experience with Top 30 squad members Emry Pere and Connelly Lemuelu to play with the Young Guns in an effort to secure more game time prior to the start of the season.
Lemuelu was a standout for the Cowboys in the Rabbitohs trial after completing a positional switch to the second row.
Pere was forced from the field in the second half following a head knock, but passed a game day HIA and will line up at prop alongside Pua’avase.
Saturday’s game kicks off 5.30pm.
Cowboys Young Guns team to play Cutters:
1. Jodeci Baker
2. Lewis Mene
3. Zac Laybutt
4. Ragarive Wavik
5. Robert Derby
6. Zack Lamont
7. Tom Duffy
8. Emry Pere
9. Jai Hansen
10. Mia Pua’avase
11. Kulikefu Finefeuaki
12. Connelly Lemuelu
13. Tyson Chase
Interchange
14. Reece Foley
15. Emarli Bitungane
16. Anthony Worot
17. Sherwin Tanabi
18. Will Latu
