The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys will take the field for the first of two pre-season trial games against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Jubilee Oval in Sydney on Saturday afternoon.
Cowboys Head Coach Todd Payten has named prop Tom Mikaele captain for the fixture, rewarding the 28-year-old for a fantastic pre-season on the training field.
>>> Payten: He's got himself in terrific shape
Mikaele will partner Harrison Edwards and Sam McIntyre in an experienced middle forward rotation to begin the Bulldogs clash.
Star second-rower Heilum Luki has been named to play his first game since September of 2024 after suffering an ACL injury in the 2025 pre-season. He will partner Kai O’Donnell in the second-row, who has made a successful return from shoulder surgery.
Jake Clifford and Jaxon Purdue are set to start in the halves as they continue their pre-season battle to partner Tom Dearden in Las Vegas.
New recruit Liam Sutton partners incumbent Cowboys centre Zac Laybutt, with Robert Derby and Jaxson Paulo on the wings.
Electric fullback Mason Barber will play his first game of senior football after missing the 2025 campaign with a shoulder injury.
The extended interchange is made up of some the Cowboys’ most exciting emerging prospects as well as players from North Queensland’s three Queensland Cup feeder clubs.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 5.30pm (4.30pm QLD).
Cowboys team to play Bulldogs:
1. Mason Barber
2. Robert Derby
3. Zac Laybutt
4. Liam Sutton
5. Jaxson Paulo
6. Jaxon Purdue
10. Tom Mikaele (c)
11. Heilum Luki
12. Kai O’Donnell
13. Sam McIntyre
Interchange
14. Zac Herdegen
15. Kaiden Lahrs
16. Mason Kira
17. Matt Watts
18. Creedence Toia
19. Ronald Philitoga
20. Maddox Goodwin
21. Wiremu Greig
22. Tyler Moriarty
23. Joseph Doyle
24. Isaiah Latu
25. Mitch Prest
26. Aitasi James
