Ahead of Saturday's season opener against the St George Illawarra Dragons at 1300SMILES Stadium, we look back at a previous historic match-up between the two sides.

North Queensland Toyota Cowboys head coach Graham Murray has made five changes ahead of Saturday night's clash against the St George Illawarra Dragons at Dairy Farmers Stadium (5:30pm).

Captain Paul Bowman returns to the centres to play just his second game of the season, while John Buttigieg and Glenn Morrison have been named in place of Jamie McDonald and Shane Muspratt.

Meanwhile, Murray has named exciting youngsters Aaron Payne and Simon Philips to make their debuts against the seventh-placed Dragons.

North Queensland Cowboys

1. Matt Bowen

2. Ty Williams

3. Matt Sing

4. Paul Bowman (c)

5. Simon Phillips

6. John Doyle

7. Nathan Fein

8. Jamie McDonald

9. George Gatis

10. John Buttigieg

11. Peter Jones

12. David Thompson

13. Glenn Morrison

15. Leigh McWilliams

16. Jaiman Lowe

17. Chris Muckert

19. Aaron Payne

St George Illawarra Dragons

1. Amos Roberts

2. Nathan Blacklock

3. Lee Hookey

4. Jason Hooper

5. Shane Laloata

6. Damien Bower

7. Willie Peters

8. Chris Leikvoll

9. Shane Millard

10. Luke Felsch

11. Justin Smith

12. Lance Thompson (c)

13. Nathan Tutt

14. Ben Ross

15. Jason Kent

17. Aaron Gorrell

19. Craig Stapleton

RESULT:

Cowboys - 40: Tries: Bowman 2, Gatis, Jones, Morrison, Sing, Williams. Goals: Morrison (6/7) d.



Dragons - 32: Tries: Gorrell, Hookey, Peters, Stapleton, Thompson, Tutt. Goals: Gorrell (3/4), Roberts (1/2).