Auckland Nines 2015: Cowboys unlock backrow monster Coen Hess

NORTH Queensland will drop an Auckland Nines bombshell by naming rising teenage star Coen Hess in the squad to defend their inaugural crown.

Under 20's match between North Queensland Cowboys and Titans at 1300 Smiles Stadium. Cowboys' Coen Hess runs on to score. Picture: Evan Morgan

NORTH Queensland will drop an Auckland Nines bombshell by naming rising teenage star Coen Hess in the squad heading to New Zealand to defend their inaugural crown this weekend.

Cowboys coach Paul Green is set to continue last year’s bold and successful plan of blooding good young talent at the nine-a-side tournament by rewarding Hess with selection after training strongly with the NRL squad over the entire preseason.

Hess will be one of several surprises when the defending champs become the last NRL team to finalise their Nines team today, with ex-Broncos utility Jake Granville also set to make his debut in Cowboys colours.

NINE QUEENSLAND GUNS TO WATCH AT THE NINES

Cowboys' Coen Hess in action.

Granville is among a handful of hookers vying for the highly debated No.9 jersey in Townsville this year and after several seasons languishing on the bench or in the Intrust Super Cup under ex-Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin, Granville is hopeful of finally making his impression felt at the NRL level in 2015.

But the big shock today will be the selection of 18-year-old Hess who already tips the scales at a whopping 110kg.

A mobile wide-running backrower, Hess has caught the eye of talent scouts throughout his junior career playing for Queensland’s under-18 team that lost to NSW at Origin time last year.

The Mount Isa junior, who was born in Bundaberg, is already in the sights on the Maroons hierarchy after he was one of the youngest among the 26 future stars brought to Brisbane a fortnight ago for the Emerging Maroons squad camp.

Cowboys' Coen Hess in action.

That camp also featured NRL experienced teammates Kyle Feldt and Ethan Lowe plus Brisbane’s Corey Oates and Gold Coast hooker Kierran Moseley.

As much as Green and the Cowboys would love to go back-to-back in the Nines, the reality is this is very much once again just a tournament to get some match fitness into players and reward youngsters who’ve shown promise during the summer.

Last year it was at this tournament where Feldt rocketed to notoriety by scoring some stunning tries and along with the likes of Gavin Cooper, Zac Santo and Javid Bowen they were the talk of the Nines.

Cowboys coach Paul Green at training.

It was also in Auckland last year where luckless fullback Lachlan Coote suffered a season-ending knee injury, throwing into disarray his first year at the Cowboys and forcing rookie coach Green’s to make an inspired decision to move Michael Morgan into the No.1 jersey.

Although Coote has been flying in training over the summer, it is understood he will be spared a trip to Auckland this year and will instead make his comeback during the trials next month.

The Cowboys will depart Townsville tomorrow to prepare for the Nines, opting to travel earlier to New Zealand than most NRL rivals to ensure the tyranny of long distance travel doesn’t scupper their plans for a bold showing.