North Queensland coach Paul Green has rested matchwinning playmaker Johnathan Thurston for Saturday night’s home NRL clash with Cronulla.
Michael Morgan will slot in at halfback for Thurston who is believed to be nursing a shoulder complaint from Queensland’s State of Origin II loss despite backing up to inspire the Cowboys’ 21-20 NRL win in Canberra on Saturday.
Thurston’s Maroons teammate Morgan – who missed the stunning win over the Raiders due to a shoulder complaint – will chime into the halves with regular hooker Rory Kostjasyn at five-eighth.
Young forward Patrick Kaufusi is poised to make his NRL debut off the bench while Robert Lui is 18th man.