Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary hoping for win over North Queensland Cowboys
PENRITH coach Ivan Cleary is hoping a new halves combination will be the catalyst for a win over the North Queensland Cowboys.
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PENRITH coach Ivan Cleary is hoping a new halves combination will be the catalyst for a win over the North Queensland Cowboys.
Cleary dumped halfback Luke Walsh to the NSW Cup on Tuesday and promoted the in-form Blake Austin.
It is the first time Walsh has been dropped since he joined the Panthers on a mid-season transfer from Newcastle in 2008.
Austin has been in fine form for the Windsor Wolves and will get his first shot in the NRL since a season-ending injury in mid-2012.
Five-eighth Tom Humble will partner Austin in the halves.
He said the team would need a good all-round performance to beat the Cowboys.
"We have to compete for the full 80 (minutes), not just in patches," Humble said.
"We need to minimise the bad patches and play for the full 80 minutes."
Cleary also named Nigel Plum at prop, which has forced NSW front-rower Tim Grant back to the interchange bench.
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