Cowboys team list: Round 1 v Bulldogs

Author: Cowboys.com.au
Timestamp: Tue 8 Mar 2022, 03:46 PM

North Queensland Toyota Cowboys Head Coach Todd Payten has named a full-strength squad for Sunday’s season-opening showdown with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Tom Dearden has won the race to partner new skipper Chad Townsend in the halves for Round 1.

Dearden was tremendous in the trial victory over the Broncos and has been named in the No.6 jersey for the first time in his NRL career.

>>> Payten on Dearden in 6, JTB starting and our bench

Townsend, Peta Hiku and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown are set to make their Cowboys debuts in the Bulldogs clash.

Hiku has been named at centre, while Taunoa-Brown has completed an impressive pre-season with a starting front-row berth alongside Coen Hess.

Co-captain Jason Taumalolo returns for his first action of 2022 after missing the trial games with a minor hamstring complaint.

Taumalolo has been named at lock, with young guns Heilum Luki and Jeremiah Nanai rounding out the back row.

Utility Reuben Cotter joins forwards Jordan McLean, Mitch Dunn and Tom Gilbert on the interchange.

Sunday’s game kicks off at 5.15pm and members and fans attending the game are encouraged to dig deep for the Tongan Volcano Disaster Fundraiser. Members of the Pasifika Communities Townsville will be stationed at various entry point accepting donations.