Kyle Feldt called up by Cowboys as Antonio Winterstein grieves the death of his brother Francis

EVERY footballer wants to play first grade but Kyle Feldt never wanted a promotion like this.

North Queensland Cowboys training at 1300 Smiles Stadium. Kyle Feldt. Picture: Evan Morgan

EVERY footballer wants to play first grade but Kyle Feldt never wanted a promotion like this.

Feldt has been called into the Cowboys team because teammate Antonio Winterstein is grieving.

Winterstein has made the decision to not play against Newcastle in Townsville as he tries to make sense of the death of his younger brother, Francis.

It is an awkward situation Feldt still has to make the best of.

Feldt will start on Winterstein’s left wing as the Cowboys attempt to spark their season against a Knights team that had a surprising first up win against the erratic Warriors.

Feldt is capable of incredible feats on a rugby league field but has failed to nail down a first grade position since debuting in 2013, the season he won the Cowboys’ rookie of the year award.

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Kyle Feldt has been given his Cowboys chance — but not in the way he would like.

Coach Paul Green described the timing of Feldt’s call up as unfortunate, but said the rangy back still needed to grasp his opportunity.

“Feldty has his opportunity and it is up to him what he does with it,” Green said.

“I am sure he won’t let us down. It is unfortunate but it is more than just the 17 that take the field.

“It is a long season and there will be other guys who play their part this season. He’s been in good form and played well for the Blackhawks last week.”

The Cowboys will need a dramatic improvement from their 28-4 loss to the Roosters last week to overcome a Knights team that features a rampant Dane Gagai.

Gagai ran for more than 200 metres against the Warriors last week.

Green was blunt when asked what area his team had to improve.

Cowboys coach Paul Green said Feldt should take the opportunity.

“Obviously our defence needs to be better. There was a 10-minute period there off the back of one of our errors where we didn’t see the ball,” he said.

“At that stage we were only down four nil but by the end we were down 16-0.

“They have a very good outside backs and smart halves. We will need to be on our game defensively.

“Generally our tackling was a little off last week. Our last play options put us under pressure at times and right from the kick off when Robbie (Lui) kicked the ball dead.

“I have been talking to Robbie quite a bit through the pre-season because it is such an important part of the game and not just Robbie but Johnno (Johnathan Thurston) and Morgo (Michael Morgan) and all the guys who kick. We need to get that part of the game right.”