North Queensland Cowboys name Queensland Cup enforcer Emarly Bitungane to make NRL debut
The Cowboys have named a Queensland Cup powerhouse to make his NRL debut as one of two changes for Sunday’s season-defining clash with the Sharks. Catch up on the latest NRL and NRLW team news.
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Tanzanian-born Cowboys prop Emarly Bitungane has been named to make his NRL debut this weekend when North Queensland takes on the Cronulla Sharks in a season-defining clash in Sydney.
The 22-year-old middle forward will come off the interchange for Todd Payten in a side that has been ravaged by injuries.
Utility forward Karl Lawton’s two-week suspension for dangerous contact opened the door for Bitungane’s first grade debut after featuring for the Cowboys in a pre-season trial match in each of the past three years.
Bitungane will become one of just a handful of players with African heritage to feature in the NRL, joining Moses Mbye (Gambia), Jayden Okunbor (Zimbabwe, Nigeria), Jason Saab (Nigeria) and Kruise Leeming (Eswatini).
It is understood that Bitungane will become just the second African-born NRL player since Jarrod Saffy (2006-10) and only the second African-born player to feature in the NRL era.
The Northern Pride enforcer has a total of 44 Queensland Cup appearances – nine with the Townsville Blackhawks in 2023 before 35 games across two seasons in Cairns – and this year he has scored six tries, including two doubles.
“He thoroughly deserves his spot, he’s been one of our most consistent performers week-in, week-out,” Pride coach Russ Aitken said.
“He definitely deserves a crack if that’s what happens.”
Bitungane averages 22 tackles per game at almost 95 per cent efficiency, and he has amassed at least 100 running metres in six of his last seven appearances.
“His physicality even at Q Cup level really stands out, I can’t think of many occasions over the past two months where his opponent has got the best of him in that department,” Aitken said.
“He’s been improving little parts of his game and been progressing with defensive movements the whole way along.
“He gets on the try sheet more often than a lot of props, so hopefully he gets that opportunity for the Cowboys as well.”
There have been a number of African-born first graders over the years, including South Africans Henry McIllmurray (18 games for Western Suburbs 1913-14), Alan Skene (16 games South Sydney 1963), Charlie Mork (21 games Newtown 1928-29), Hans Mork (73 games Newtown 1929-37), Colin Greenwood (79 games North Sydney, Canterbury 1964-69), Peter Swanson (21 games Penrith 1973-74), Louis Neumann (74 games Eastern Suburbs 1967-71) and Jarrod Saffy (61 games Wests Tigers, St George Illawarra 2006-10).
Andy Marinos (1 game Canterbury 1996) is the only Zimbabwean-born player to have played a first grade match.
In the NRL’s 2025 multicultural round they listed players with the following African heritage: Burundi, Congo, Egypt, Libya, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Popular playmaker Jake Clifford has recovered from a quad injury to reclaim the No.6 jersey from Tom Duffy, with the 22-year-old halfback also left out of the reserves.
Cowboys NRLW centre Abigail Roache has shaken off a shoulder injury picked up during her side’s victory over the Canberra Raiders to take her place in this week’s team.
North Queensland coach Ricky Henry named an unchanged side for Sunday’s Magic Round battle with the New Zealand Warriors.
Barnstorming forward Essay Banu was named on the interchange again although she has been a game-day addition to the starting side in three out of four games this season.
Cowboys co-captain Kirra Dibb features in the reserves alongside outside back Ana Malupo – who could come into the side if Roache is ruled out later in the week.
COWBOYS NRL TEAM
1. Scott Drinkwater
2. Robert Derby
3. Jaxon Purdue
4. Zac Laybutt
5. Braidon Burns
6. Jake Clifford
7. Tom Dearden (c)
8. Harrison Edwards
9. Reece Robson
10. Griffin Neame
11. John Bateman
12. Jeremiah Nanai
13. Reuben Cotter (c)
Interchange
14. Emarly Bitungane
15. Kaiden Lahrs
16. Kai O’Donnell
17. Coen Hess
Reserves
18. Jaxson Paulo
19. Nic Lenaz
20. Mason Kira
21. Jamal Shibasaki
22. Dane Aukafolau
COWBOYS NRLW TEAM
1. Jakiya Whitfeld
2. Krystal Blackwell
3. Abigail Roache
4. Jasmine Peters
5. Fran Goldthorp
6. Rosie Kelly
7. Tahlulah Tillett
8. Lillian Yarrow
9. Emma Manzelmann (c)
10. Makenzie Weale
11. Tallisha Harden
12. Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell
13. Bree Chester
Interchange
14. Alisha Foord
15. Lily Peacock
16. Najvada George
17. Essay Banu
Reserves
18. Lily Dick
19. Kirra Dibb (c)
20. Ana Malupo
21. Tiana Raftstrand-Smith
22. Tafao Asaua
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Originally published as North Queensland Cowboys name Queensland Cup enforcer Emarly Bitungane to make NRL debut
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