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Around the Grounds: Behind the NRL teams
North Queensland Cowboys
Cowboys name Tate for Broncos clash
Former Test and State of Origin centre Brent Tate is one of five inclusions in a 19-man Toyota Cowboys squad for Friday night's NRL round two clash with the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
Tate missed the season-opening 18-0 loss to the Gold Coast Titans after suffering rib cartilage damage in the final pre-season trial and will need to prove his fitness in training this week before taking his place at right centre against the Broncos.
With Tate included on today's team list, Antonio Winterstein reverts from centre to wing.
Coach Neil Henry will settle on his final 17-man squad later in the week with decisions yet to be made on the interchange bench.
Forwards Jason Taumalolo and Cory Paterson have been included on the six-player bench, along with back-up hooker James Segeyaro and winger Kalifa Faifai Loa.
At this stage the only omissions from the team that lost to the Titans are winger Mosese Pangai, forward Scott Bolton and halfback Robert Lui, who made his Cowboys debut last weekend as an interchange option.
Henry wants Lui, whose pre-season was hindered by a knee injury, to gain more playing time by lining up for the Northern Pride in the opening round of the Intrust Super Cup on Saturday.
With Tate included on today's team list, Antonio Winterstein reverts from centre to wing.
Coach Neil Henry will settle on his final 17-man squad later in the week with decisions yet to be made on the interchange bench.
Forwards Jason Taumalolo and Cory Paterson have been included on the six-player bench, along with back-up hooker James Segeyaro and winger Kalifa Faifai Loa.
At this stage the only omissions from the team that lost to the Titans are winger Mosese Pangai, forward Scott Bolton and halfback Robert Lui, who made his Cowboys debut last weekend as an interchange option.
Henry wants Lui, whose pre-season was hindered by a knee injury, to gain more playing time by lining up for the Northern Pride in the opening round of the Intrust Super Cup on Saturday.
Pangai will drop back to the Mackay Cutters after making his NRL debut.
Friday night's match kicks off at 7.40pm (Qld time) and will be live on Nine/WIN and 4TOFM - follow the Twitter feed @nthqldcowboys for live score updates.
Canberra Raiders
Wighton named for Raiders
Friday night's match kicks off at 7.40pm (Qld time) and will be live on Nine/WIN and 4TOFM - follow the Twitter feed @nthqldcowboys for live score updates.
Canberra Raiders
Wighton named for Raiders
The Canberra Raiders have named rookie Jack Wighton on the wing for potentially his debut match this weekend against the Gold Coast Titans at Skilled Park.
Wighton will need to have his Grade two dangerous throw downgraded at the Toyota Cup judiciary on Wednesday night. Wighton will plead guilty to the charge but will dispute the grading. If he's successful he'll make his NRL debut on Saturday night.
The other change for the Raiders is Tom Learoyd-Lahrs who will miss the match with a re-occurrence of a foot injury, with Trevor Thurling coming into the 17 on the bench. Brett White will move from the interchange to take Learoyd-Lahrs starting prop position.
Learoyd-Lahrs is only expected to miss one week and should be available against the Roosters next weekend.
Raiders Coach David Furner said the changes due to injury were not ideal, however he said the team was confident with the players coming into the side.