The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys host the Penrith Panthers at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Friday night.
1. HE’S BACK
Cowboys co-captain Jason Taumalolo is set to return from a long injury lay-off to face the Panthers. Taumalolo has been sidelined since Round 7 after opting to undergo knee surgery. The 30-year-old will don his famous No.13 jersey, which has been filled by Reuben Cotter and Jake Granville in his absence.
2. BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Jake Granville will return to his roots on Friday night, wearing the No.9 jersey for the first time since Round 4 of the 2020 season. In the more than three years between stints in his preferred number, Granville has filled in almost every position on the field for North Queensland including fullback, centre, second row, prop and most recently lock.
3. BACKLINE RE-SHUFFLE
With Valentine Holmes and Murray Taulagi away on Origin duties, Kyle Feldt and Zac Laybutt return at wing and centre respectively. It will be the second top grade appearance for Laybutt after an impressive debut against the Parramatta Eels in Round 13.
4. HOME ADVANTAGE
North Queensland broke a four-game losing streak against the Panthers in the final round of the regular season in 2022 and will look for another victory over the competition heavyweights on Friday night. The Panthers hold a 24-20 lead in the all-time head-to-head match-up, although the Cowboys have won seven of the last nine games played in North Queensland.
5. STATS UPDATE
Scott Drinkwater sits inside the top five in the competition for both try assists (13) and line-break assists (18). Chad Townsend ranks second in the NRL with 6,322 kicking metres and third with 203 total kicks. Origin-bound Reece Robson has made the second most tackles in the competition with 617, trailing only NSW teammate Damien Cook (677).
