Cowboys sensation Tautau Moga returns from long injury lay-off for Mackay Cutters

COWBOYS sensation Tautau Moga will make his highly-anticipated return this weekend after recovering from his third ACL injury.

Tautau Moga will make his highly-anticipated return this weekend.

COWBOYS sensation Tautau Moga will make his highly-anticipated return this weekend when he pulls on the boots for the under-fire Mackay Cutters.

The talented 22-year-old back has not played since last May, when he snapped the ACL in his right knee for a third time while representing Samoa in the Pacific Test.

It has been a slow and steady recovery for the youngster, who made his NRL debut in 2012 and has played 17 games for the Cowboys, the last of those in Round 8 last year.

But Cowboys and Cutters officials believe he is ready to make a comeback, which could not come at a better time given Mackay have lost their five opening Intrust Super Cup games.

Cutters coach David Simpson said his battling team were in desperate need of experience, which Moga will provide against Norths on Saturday.

“He brings everything we’re looking for in rugby league, everything from top to bottom,” Simpson said.

North Queensland Cowboys in their last training before they take off to New Zealand for the Auckland Nines. Cowboys Tautau Moga

“The way he prepares, the way he performs ... it’s anything any rugby league club would be asking for from an individual.

“He’s great on his feet and has a tremendous offload. He’s fast, he’s big, he’s very strong with his one-on-one contact.

“He’s top shelf.”

Simpson admitted he was unsure how Moga’s nerves would be given his injury-plagued history.

Cowboys high performance manager Paul Bowman was more assured that the centre was mentally and physically prepared for his return.

“We wanted to give him as much time as possible given his injury history with that knee,” Bowman said.

“He’s been great in everything he’s done. He’s been positive.

“I’m sure he’ll be nervous but he’s done all the work.”

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 06: Tautau Moga of the Cowboys makes a break during the round five NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the North Queensland Cowboys at Pepper Stadium on April 6, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Moga will not be the only big change to the Cutters side this week, after Simpson cut halves Howard Brown and Delayne Ashby.

He replaced them with the more experienced combination of Regan Verney and Liam Taylor as the side look for their first win.

Simpson said the biggest issue Mackay had was combining as a squad in a short amount of time, a mistake he promises will never happen again.

“We were a bit hasty in accumulating numbers,” he said.

“It’s reflected in the inability of the guys to compete for 80 minutes and close games out.

“It has made it difficult but we have to make the best of what we’ve got. Over time they will become quality.”

Originally published as Cowboys sensation Tautau Moga returns from long injury lay-off for Mackay Cutters