North Queensland Toyota Cowboys NRLW Head Coach Ricky Henry has named a full-strength 22-player squad for Saturday’s season-opening clash against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks on Saturday morning at PointsBet Stadium.
Star recruit Jakiya Whitfeld will start at centre in her official Cowboys debut. The former Wests Tigers star comes to the club on the back of an appearance for the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII at the back end of 2023 and was also part of the extended NSW Sky Blues squad in all three games of the 2024 series.
China Polata and Tiana Raftstrand-Smith form a new-look second-row pairing to begin 2024. Polata switched between wing and middle forward last season, but has been earmarked as a long-term second-rower for the Cowboys by Henry.
Bree Chester switched from second-row to lock over the pre-season and has been named in the No.13 jersey for Round 1.
Alisha Foord has won a spot on the interchange and will feature in her new position of dummy-half, working in tandem with Maroons star Emma Manzelmann.
New recruit Harata Butler will make her Cowboys debut from the interchange after missing time in the pre-season through injury.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 11.05am.
Cowboys team to play Sharks:
7. Kirra Dibb (c)
8. Tallisha Harden (c)
10. Makenzie Weale
11. China Polata
13. Bree Chester
Interchange
14. Alisha Foord
15. Lily Peacock
16. Harata Butler
17. Essay Banu
Reserves
18. Shaniah Power
19. Sareka Mooka
20. Lillian Yarrow
21. Shellie Long
