CQ Comets start mind games

It is the start of the rugby league season and the mind games have started with CQ Comets coach Wayne Barnett naming his squad, but placing Bronco Ben Hunt at number 18.

Hunt will play, but Barnett is not saying who will drop out.

With a couple of training sessions to go there are a couple of the Comets players who may be carrying a little injury and therefore Barnett is leaving the final decision wide open until the last possible moment.

He will need all his troops to be fully fit and fired up as the Mackay Cutters bring no fewer than six players who are members of the current NQ Cowboys squad.

Named by the Cutters are Shannon Gallant at full back, Obe Geia on the wing and Donald Malone in the centres. All are Cowboys.

Then there is prop Asaak Ah Mau and both second rowers Mitchell Achurch and Leeson Ah Mau.

Added to those boys is the signing from the United Kingdom Super League team Crusaders, Neil Budworth.

Quite an impressive array of talent for the visitors who will come to Rockhampton full of confidence after winning 10-0 in the trial match played at Browne Park.

However, it will be a massive mistake if the Mackay team thinks it has seen what the Comets have on offer this year.

The Comets will be a lot stronger in the playmaking areas this time around and have the players to match their opponent in the forwards.

Unfortunately Alan Rothery is still out through suspension, but the Comets look good both on the park and the interchange bench.

A change Barnett has made is swap his wingers over with Dallas Williams named on the right and Junior Auru on the left.

Kick-off at Browne Park on Saturday is 7pm.

Queensland Cup round one match between the CQ Comets and Mackay Cutters on Saturday at Browne Park

CQ Comets: – 1:Jade Williams, 2: Dallas Williams, 3: Karl Johnson, 4: Josh Bishop, 5: Junior Auru, 6: Guy Williams, 7: Matt Minto, 8: Gerard Parle, 9: Ian Webster,

10: Aaron Summers, 11:Tyron Haynes, 12: Chris Beasley, 13: Mick Esdale, 14: Marc Fickling, 15: Darren Mapp, 16: Guy Ford, 17: Tim Glasby, 18: Ben Hunt

Mackay Cutters: – 1: Shannon Gallant, 2: Obe Geia, 3: Donald Malone, 4: Dean Tass, 5: Chris Giumelli, 6: Shane Muspratt, 7: Justin Hunt, 8: Isaak Ah Mau, 9: Neil Budworth, 10: Liam McDonald, 11: Mitchell Achurch, 12: Leeson Ah Mau, 13: Jardine Bobongie

Interchange: 14: Todd Seymour, 15: Tyson Martin, 16: Zac Dalton, 17: Darren Griffiths