Exciting teenager Xavier Savage has been named on the Canberra Raiders bench to play his first NRL game this season against the North Queensland Cowboys at GIO Stadium on Thursday night.

The 19-year-old was thought to be in the running for the Raiders’ number 1 jersey after a stellar trial against the Roosters, but Ricky Stuart opted for the more experienced Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

Savage’s inclusion sees Matt Frawley shift to the reserves after spending the entire 80 minutes on the bench during Canberra’s loss to the Storm last week.

It’s the only change to the Raiders 17, with Matt Timoko named at centre despite being forced from the field against Melbourne after copping a knock. Sebastian Kris and Jarrod Croker have been named on the reserves and one of them would likely come in if Timoko doesn’t get up.

Ryan Sutton will start at lock with Elliott Whitehead back in his familiar 12 jersey in his 150th match for the club. Hudson Young has been named as a reserve after he was a late out against the Storm.

This is the second meeting between the sides already in 2022, with the Cowboys easily accounting for the Raiders 26-6 up in Townsville in round 2.

Click here to buy tickets to the game.

Raiders and Cowboys team lists