Ray Thompson has landed the vacant halfback job for North Queensland in their first match of the NRL season against Gold Coast in Townsville on Saturday night.

Off-season recruit Robert Lui’s late bid to play halfback after a pre-season knee injury came up short with coach Neil Henry naming Thompson inside of co-captain Johnathan Thurston.

Thurston will make his five-eighth debut against the Titans.

Former Sydney Rooster Kane Linnett edged Antonio Winterstein in the battle for a centre spot.

But Winterstein hasn’t missed out completely, being named on the wing.

Representative centre Brent Tate has been named in Henry’s 17-man squad but still has to get through some contact work later in the week.

Gavin Cooper, Glenn Hall and Dallas Johnson have won the hotly contested starting back-row slots, with Henry opting for four forwards, including hooker James Segeyaro, on his interchange bench.

Johnson, prop James Tamou and winger Ashley Graham have been cleared to play in round one after missing the pre-season trial which the Cowboys lost 36-28 to the Titans in Mackay two weeks ago.

North Queensland: Matt Bowen, Ashley Graham, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Ray Thompson, Matthew Scott (capt), Aaron Payne, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Scott Bolton, Jason Taumalolo, Ashton Sims.