Lachlan Coote will play his first NRL game in over 18 months in North Queensland’s crucial match-up with Brisbane on Friday.
Coote moved from Penrith to Townsville ahead of the 2014 season, but didn’t play an NRL game last year after suffering an ACL injury at the inaugural Auckland Nines.
Cowboys coach Paul Green was keen to slowly introduce Coote back into football through the lower grades this year.
But after two disappointing losses to kick-off the Cowboys’ 2015 premiership campaign, Green has slotted Coote into fullback to meet the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
The 24-year-old former City representative last played in the Panthers’ round 26 defeat of Manly on September 8, 2013.
“Cootey gets his chance this week, it would have been nice to give him another (lower grade) game last week but unfortunately it got rained out,” Green told reporters in Townsville on Tuesday.
“Fitness was never an issue for him. It was just getting back into the swing of playing football again.
“He is very keen to get back out there and I’m sure he will be okay.
Coote’s inclusion pushes Michael Morgan to five-eighth with Robert Lui falling out of the side.
“We are better defensively with Morgo in the front line,” Green said
“He is a bigger body, makes good decisions there and he has played most of his football there.
“I think Cootey will add a bit in attack for us at fullback, he will be fine in defence and covering their kicks, and hopefully he will have good pass selection when he does come into the line.”
Feleti Mateo will resume his playmaking role for Manly in Friday’s round three opener against Canterbury at Brookvale Oval, with Kieran Foran expected to be out with a hamstring injury for at least another week.
Vai Toutai comes on to Parramatta’s left wing for Semi Radradra (knee) for the Eels trip to Auckland to meet the Warriors on Saturday.
Jordan Rapana moves to fullback for Canberra in place of Jack Wighton who is expected to miss three weeks with an eye socket injury. The Raiders host St George Illawarra on Saturday night.
Sam Tagataese returns at prop for underperforming Cronulla in Saturday night’s clash against the Storm in Melbourne.
Matthew Lodge returns to the Wests Tigers bench for Sunday’s match against South Sydney at ANZ Stadium, after serving a one-match club imposed ban for an off-field indiscretion.
Suspended trio Greg Bird, Dave Taylor and Beau Falloon return to the Titans’ side for their match against Newcastle on the Gold Coast on Sunday night.
Isaac John moves into five-eighth for Penrith for their Monday night encounter with Sydney Roosters, with Jamie Soward set to be sidelined for up to two months with a back injury.
