North Queensland Cowboys prop Matt Scott has lost his mum Dianne who has battled thyroid cancer of the throat

ALREADY grief-stricken, North Queensland Cowboys will have to combat one of the NRL's biggest front-row rotations without two of their best props.

Cowboys Broncos

ALREADY grief-stricken, North Queensland Cowboys will have to combat one of the NRL's biggest front-row rotations without two of their best props.

The Cowboys will wear black armbands against Canberra Raiders in Townsville tonight to pay tribute to Dianne Scott, the mother of club captain and Maroons enforcer Matt.

Dianne died late on Thursday night after a long battle with throat cancer.

Her death has left the Cowboys club shattered.

Scott will not line up against the Raiders as he remains with his family in Ilfracombe.

Dianne was a hero to many in the remote central west town. When Scott was playing junior footy, Dianne would drive the team bus.

Those trips would often take up to eight hours, yet incredibly she would do it week in, week out.

"Our thoughts are with Matt at this difficult time," Cowboys coach Neil Henry said yesterday.

"He will be staying at home with his family.

"It's very sad news for the club and Matt's family."

Dianne's condition worsened in the lead-up to Origin II, with Scott taking the first few days of camp off to be by her side.

Although Scott will also join next week's Maroons camp late, Henry said he would likely play the decider at Suncorp Stadium.

"It's too early to say if he will miss Origin. I imagine he won't though," he said.

NSW hooker Robbie Farah also has more important matters to deal with than the July 4 Origin match. Farah's mother Sonia died last Sunday from pancreatic cancer.

North Queensland's loss of Scott tonight is compounded by the suspension of fellow Cowboys prop Ashton Sims for one week on a high tackle charge.

The Cowboys will play one prop short with veteran backrower Glenn Hall expected to fill Scott's place while Cory Paterson or Joel Riethmuller will take the final bench spot.

In comparison, the Raiders have one of the game's best front-row rotations.

Their starting props are Origin players Dave Shillington (114kg) and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (110kg), while the game's tallest player, Dane Tilse (113kg, 200cm) comes off their bench.

The Cowboys have one genuine giant in James Tamou at 113kg, but bench prop Ricky Thorby is just 101kg and Hall 100kg.

"It's a tough time. Ashton is out as well so we are missing a couple of front-rowers," Henry said.

"The Raiders have a big pack of forwards with Shillington and Tilse.

"We need to build on our strong game against the Brisbane Broncos last week and each win is vital."