Kai O’Donnell has been named to make his North Queensland Toyota Cowboys debut in Saturday night’s clash against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
The Airlie Beach product returned to North Queensland for 2025 after stints in Canberra and the UK and immediately impressed Cowboys coaching staff with his intensity at training.
O’Donnell registered four NRL appearances for the Raiders in 2020 before departing for England where he starred in a three-season stint for Leigh.
The 26-year-old has been named to start in the second row.
The remainder of Todd Payten’s 17 remains the same, with Tom Duffy, John Bateman and Karl Lawton set to make their home debuts for the Cowboys.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 4.30pm.
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Cowboys team to play Sharks:
3. Jaxon Purdue
6. Tom Dearden (c)
7. Tom Duffy
9. Reece Robson
10. Sam McIntyre
11. John Bateman
12. Kai O’Donnell
13. Reuben Cotter (c)
Interchange
14. Karl Lawton
15. Harrison Edwards
16. Griffin Neame
17. Coen Hess
Reserves
18. Jake Clifford
19. Jeremiah Nanai
20. Tom Mikaele
21. Jaxson Paulo
22. Jason Taumalolo
