Two heavyweights of the NRL collide in Townsville as North Queensland Cowboys face the Sydney Roosters in round one.
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Both teams are among the faovurites to take out the NRL crown this year. The Roosters won the grand final in 2013 and the Cowboys are regular finals contenders.
Sydney Roosters will be without Sonyn Bill Williams for the first time, after he went back to rugby union in New Zealand. The Eastern Suburbs club have added Blake Ferguson, after his rehabilitation from the game, and veteran Willie Manu from St Helens.
North Queensland will be lead as always by their halfback and linchpin, Jonathan Thurston. The playmaker is one of the best players on the planet and remains the key for the Queenslanders.
They have lost prop Ashton Sims to Super League but have replaced with another representative front-rower in Ben Hannant. The Cowboys and the Roosters both have settled squads and are likely to be in the mix for the top four come September.
Where: 1300SMILES Stadium, Townsville
When: 10.00am GMT Saturday (8.00pm local)
Watch live: Premier Sports
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