Courtesy of the the Daily Mercury
MICHAEL Meigan will mark his return to the state league scene after a five-year absence when he makes his debut for the Mackay Cutters on Saturday.
The 29-year-old will be pitched into a North Queensland showdown at Cairns, where Cowboys feeder teams Northern Pride and Mackay will collide.
Meigan, a former Young Guns ball-player, relocated to Sydney and played in the Jim Beam Cup before moving to Mackay, where he has impressed many local rugby league pundits in recent years.
Cutters coach Paul Bramley said the off-season recruit had been training well and was impressive in the trials.
“He’s got that experience and knows how to get to the end of a set,” Bramley said.
“My only worry at the moment is his fitness.”
Should Meigan feel the pinch, there is cover on the bench in the form of Shane Muspratt.
Meigan’s opportunity comes after Grant Rovelli got a recall to the Cowboys and Justin Hunt produced a fleet-footed display at fullback last weekend.
Hunt started the season in the halves but was a stand-out during the side’s breakthrough 36-10 win over Burleigh when he replaced custodian Daniel Flynn.
“Flynny is just about the safest fullback in the comp but Justin has that attacking element. He’s very dangerous and he combined well with Todd Seymour last week,” Bramley said.
The match should provide plenty of fireworks, with Cowboys fringe players looking to impress North Queensland coach Neil Henry.
The Cutters’ line-up boasts five Cowboys, while the Pride side has three, including Steve Southern.
After missing a week because of a hamstring strain, Obe Geia returns to the Cutters line-up, pushing Dean Tass out. Ben Harris is likely to be sidelined for another few weeks after minor surgery on his knee.
The corresponding fixture last year was a heated affair. Then-hooker Roy Baira was suspended after breaking the jaw of former Pride playmaker Luke Millwood, who also hails from Mackay.
PRIDE: C Bird, M Bani, B Anderson, S Rea, B Bowen, T Pearson, C Sheppard, B Laity, J Roos, J Lowe, S Southern, M Cantoni, J Riethmuller. Interchange: R Griffin, N Slyney, N Underwood, D Hogan. Coach: D Maiden.
CUTTERS: J Hunt, O Geia, D Malone, T Martin, C Giumelli, M Meigan, T Seymour, L McDonald, N Budworth, I Ah Mau, D Griffiths, J Bobongie, L Ah Mau. Interchange: S Muspratt, M Achurch, L Fatnowna, J Iakimo. Coach: Paul Bramley.
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