Cairns NRL trial booked

Andrew Piva

Thursday, July 17, 2008

A REVAMPED North Queensland side will be eager to impress new coach Neil Henry when the Cowboys take on Penrith in an NRL trial match in Cairns next February.

Henry will lead a team likely to include returning fullback Matt Bowen and star signing Willie Tonga against a Panthers outfit headed by prop Petero Civoniceva.

The clash at Barlow Park will be the last pre-season trial for both clubs before the start of the 2009 NRL season.

Cairns District Rugby League president Nigel Tillett said the city and Barlow Park’s reputation among NRL clubs helped secure the February 28 trial.

"We’ve got good facilities, a good venue and great support. All that stuff counts," he said.

"Things like the State of Origin dinner we ran up here adds up. We won rave reviews for that.

"The QRL was exceptionally happy with the whole trip by the Origin side and how it was organised and supported.

"You can never say it’s easy to get a game like this but we find it a lot easier than a lot of other regional centres because of our reputation."

The Cowboys and the Panthers are likely to name close to full-strength line-ups for the clash, with North Queensland already looking towards next season after a horror 2008.

The Cowboys have lost Bowen (knee) for the season and will be without halfback Johnathan Thurston (knee) for at least a month.

But with Henry starting as coach and the arrival of former Origin centre Tonga to look forward to, the Cowboys faithful are praying for better times ahead.

It will be the first Cairns visit for the Panthers.

More than 12,000 people packed into Barlow Park in February to watch the Cowboys take on the Gold Coast.

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