NRL 2016 season: North Queensland Cowboys vs St George Illawarra Dragons Round 5 preview, live streaming info, play-by-play updates and team lineup

The North Queensland Cowboys will try to fend off last week’s crucial loss when they host the visiting St George Illawarra Dragons at 1300SMILES Stadium in Round 5 of the 2016 National Rugby League season.

The Cowboys are looking to quickly put their campaign back to winning ways after losing against the Brisbane Broncos 21-20 in last week’s NRL action. After consecutive games of not changing their lineup, North Queensland will be forced to make amends when they meet a surging Dragons, with outside back Javid Bowen set to make his NRL debut as replacement for an injured Kane Linnett at left centre.

Meanwhile, the Dragons are enjoying a two-game winning streak, coming off a low-scoring victory 8-6 over the South Sydney Rabbitohs. The Dragons will have halfback Benji Marshall, who returns from a hamstring injury, providing a boost for St George Illawarra on Saturday’s clash against the Cowboys.

Dragons coach Paul McGregor confirmed Marshall’s availability, saying that the star playmaker would bring the club “a lot of energy and a lot of trust” in their match against the Cowboys. The superstar playmaker’s return pushes Josh McCrone back as the 18 th man.

“His experience is invaluable and he brings a lot of energy and a lot of trust to the football team,” McGregor said, reports Sports News . “It has worked out ideally. We have won our last two games and he hasn’t been a part of it. You don’t want to risk a player as valuable as him early in the year.”

The Cowboys have the numbers against the Dragons, having won 14 games in all of their 26 meetings. But St George have the momentum heading into the match, although the Cowboys are still the favourite to finish victorious.

North Queensland Cowboys lineup

Lachlan Coote, Kyle Feldt, Justin O'Neill, Javid Bowen, Antonio Winterstein, Michael Morgan, Johnathan Thurston, Matthew Scott, Jake Granville, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Ethan Lowe, Jason Taumalolo Interchange: Rory Kostjasyn, John Asiata, Scott Bolton, Ben Hannant Coach: Paul Green

St George Illawarra Dragons lineup

Josh Dugan, Peter Mata'utia, Euan Aitken, Tim Lafai, Jason Nightingale, Gareth Widdop, Benji Marshall, Leeson Ah Mau, Mitch Rein, Russell Packer, Tyson Frizell, Joel Thompson, Jack De Belin Interchange: Mike Cooper, Will Matthews, Siliva Havili, Jake Marketo, Josh McCrone, Coach: Paul McGregor

Live streaming info and play-by-play updates

Watch NRL 2016 season Round 5: Melbourne Storm vs Newcastle Knights live via NRL Digital Pass. Play-by-play updates will be available during game time on Fox Sports AU.