Cowboys rule out Jordan McLean, while NRLW team without China Polata, Lily Peacock, Harata Butler and Makenzie Weale

The Cowboys will be without middle forward enforcer Jordan McLean against the Bulldogs on Saturday, with several NRLW players also ruled out. See the ins and outs.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki of the Cowboys looks on during the round five NRL match between North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans at Qld Country Bank Stadium, on April 07, 2024, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

The Cowboys will be without middle forward enforcer Jordan McLean against the Bulldogs on Saturday as coach Todd Payten declared North Queensland’s finals campaign begins now.

McLean has been a regular in the Cowboys pack this year, starting all 20 of his appearances and laying the platform for the side with his reliable metres and defence, but a hamstring complain will keep him sidelined until finals.

Cowboys backrower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki is shaping as the most likely replacement for McLean as the 20-year-old Tongan targets his return from a thumb injury.

Payten said playing McLean would not be worth the risk, even considering the importance of the match.

TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 29: Jordan McLean of the Cowboys sits on the bench with ice strapped to his leg during the round 26 NRL match between North Queensland Cowboys and Melbourne Storm at Qld Country Bank Stadium, on August 29, 2024, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

“If this was a final we’d roll him out but given the risk associated with it I decided to put him on ice and get it 100 per cent for a week later,” Payten said.

“Kuli (Finefeuiaki) trained today and we’ll see how he pulls up tomorrow. Outside of that everyone’s ready to go.”

North Queensland was able to topple an undermanned Melbourne outfit in round 26 but the performance was far from convincing.

The team faces a more challenging prospect on Saturday against a Bulldogs team riding high after returning to finals after almost a decade.

Payten said he was looking for a polished finals performance from his men.

“We’re well aware of what’s on the line and we’re playing a really good team at their home ground and they should be revved up after getting beaten the week before,” Payten said.

TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 04: Kulikefu Finefeuiaki of the Cowboys is tackled during the round nine NRL match between North Queensland Cowboys and Dolphins at Qld Country Bank Stadium, on May 04, 2024, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

“We’ve spoken about building into September and being diligent at the disciplined parts of the game and the parts of the game that are really hard, which is kick-chase, winning our tackles and then paying a physical toll that you need to pay to win big moments and big games.

“We’re playing a team that’s tenacious and has built that style of footy over the course of the season. We’ve been a little inconsistent with that, and the time for inconsistency is over.”

Payten said this week’s training involved a big focus on kick defence.

“They’re in the top two for tries scored off kicks. They’ve got multiple options and last game against us this year, they scored three tries off kicks,” he said.

The Cowboys play the Bulldogs in Sydney on Saturday at 5.30pm.

Shellie Long of the Cowboys is tackled during the round seven NRLW match between North Queensland Cowboys and St George Illawarra Dragons at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, on September 02, 2023, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Papua New Guinean international Shellie Long will be called into the Cowboys NRLW side for Saturday’s key game against the struggling Tigers after North Queensland was hit by a mid-season injury crisis.

China Polata, Lily Peacock and Harata Butler have all been ruled out for this week while Makenzie Weale’s season is over after she suffered a second serious concussion.

While Long has spent the majority of her NRLW career at centre, Cowboys coach Ricky Henry said it was not yet clear where she would be injected into the action.

“She can cover outside backs, she can play centre, wing, backrow – and she’s played a little middle so that will help us as well,” Henry said.

Shellie Long of Papua New Guinea poses for a photo during the Papua New Guinea Rugby League Women's World Cup portrait session on October 25, 2022 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Karl Bridgeman/Getty Images for Rugby League World Cup)

North Queensland is running a light bench this week with Long joined by 58kg utility Jetaya Faifiua, Sareka Mooka and rookie prop Lillian Yarrow.

Lavinia Tauhalaliku will play her second game for the Cowboys from the wing and Henry said that’s the position he saw as her best place in the team.

“She’s played a little bit of wing, centre, fullback. At the moment with the team that we’ve got, we’ve got good centres and there’s a bit of a fight for the fullback position, so wing is probably the position that we want her to play,” Henry said.

“She carried the ball well and got us up the field. She’s a big body, very athletic, and we haven’t seen the best of her yet.

“If we can get her some nice clean ball I’m pretty sure she’ll show us what she’s got.”

The Cowboys play the Tigers at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday, September 7. Kick-off is at 11am.

Originally published as Cowboys rule out Jordan McLean, while NRLW team without China Polata, Lily Peacock, Harata Butler and Makenzie Weale