The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys travel south to take on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Accor Stadium.
1. PRICE IS RIGHT
Twenty-one-year-old forward Riley Price is set to become Cowboy No.307 on Sunday – against the club his father Steve appeared in 222 games for between 1994-2004. Price has been in the Cowboys system since 2019 and a member of the NRL squad since mid-2021. A versatile forward, Price has spent significant time at both second row and lock in the Queensland Cup.
2. DUNN HIS TIME
Homegrown product Mitch Dunn returns to the NRL arena more than a year after suffering a torn ACL in Round 2 of the 2022 season. Dunn returned to action in the Queensland Cup two weeks ago and punched out 80 minutes at lock for the Blackhawks last weekend. Dunn has been named on the interchange.
3. FRESH FACES
Aside from Price and Dunn, Cowboys Head Coach Todd Payten has been forced into a number of other changes through injury and suspension. Peta Hiku returns from a fortnight on the sidelines at centre, with Gehamat Shibasaki now out with a hamstring strain. Brendan Elliot has been named on the wing with Murray Taulagi out for 4-6 weeks due to an MCL injury. Second-rower Heilum Luki has been elevated to the starting side in place of the suspended Jeremiah Nanai.
4. ON A ROLL
North Queensland have won nine of their previous 12 encounters with the Bulldogs, stretching back to 2013. The Cowboys won the last meeting – a 28-14 triumph in Round 21 last season behind a Scott Drinkwater double.
5. STATS UPDATE
Chad Townsend remains the competition leader in try assists with six through four rounds. He also has the third most kick metres in the competition with 1,834. Valentine Holmes sits inside the top five for both total points (30), goals (13) and tackle breaks (20).
