North Queensland Cowboys

The NRL has moved Friday night's clash between the Rabbitohs and Cowboys to Newcastle to prevent the visitors from being forced into quarantine. While Greater Sydney is currently subject to a lockdown in an effort to squash an outbreak of COVID-19,

North Queensland coach Todd Payten has attributed his side's three-game slide to falling short when faced with adversity in the NRL.

The Cowboys have received a boost ahead of their Friday night clash with the Rabbitohs after their coach Todd Payten was released from isolation earlier than expected. Payten was last week ordered to self-isolate for 14 days after he was deemed a 'close contact' to a positive COVID case.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten and player Griffin Neame have been given the all-clear to return to their regular duties. The NRL announced on Tuesday that the pair had gone “over and above public health orders” after spending time in isolation.

Kick-off times, TV times, team lists, match info and full preview for round 17 match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and North Queensland Cowboys

Queensland will release their team on Monday morning, with Cowboys centre Tabuai-Fidow thought to have done enough to win a centre spot in a new-look squad, according to The Courier Mai l and Channel 9.

The Queensland Maroons are set to debut North Queensland Cowboys young gun . Nine's Ben Dobbin reports Tabuai-Fidow will be called into Maroons camp on Monday which will also see the likes of Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga make his Origin return after he was sidelined with a groin injury.

Queensland star Kalyn Ponga insists he'll be good to go for the Maroons in State of Origin III despite hurting his neck in Newcastle's romp over North Queensland. After missing the past six weeks for the Knights – and two Origin games for the Maroons – Ponga made a triumphant …

The fullback's return to form will no doubt be a welcome sight for Maroons coach Paul Green, with Queensland hoping to avoid a series sweep at the hands of the Blues when Game Three takes place on July 14.

Kalyn Ponga made a successful return from a six-week layoff with a groin injury to score two tries in a dynamic display that will breathe life into the Knights' underwhelming campaign. His comeback would also have been a welcome sight for Queensland,