Changes: Cowboys & Broncos

North Queensland prop Mitchell Sargent has been handed a lifeline after hard-working forward Steve Southern was ruled out of tomorrow night's clash against the Broncos with a thigh strain.

Sargent was set to play for the Young Guns in the Queensland Cup this weekend but leapfrogged 18th man Justin Smith into the Cowboys team when Southern was ruled out. Coach Graham Murray says he wanted more size in the pack.

Meanwhile, Queensland Origin impact forward Sam Thaiday's hopes of playing in front of his family and friends in Townsville this weekend have been dashed.

Despite his role in Queensland's recent Origin series victory over NSW he has been overlooked for Saturday night's clash with North Queensland at Dairy Farmers Stadium. But coach Wayne Bennett today preferred Corey Parker and Dane Carlaw, both former Origin players, as his interchange forwards for the showdown with the desperate Cowboys.

Bennett trimmed his 19-man squad today with Thaiday and fellow prop Ben Hannant relegated.