Valentine Holmes knows just how important utility Brendan Elliot is to North Queensland, labelling the journeyman the NRL's "best 18th man" ahead of their clash with Canterbury on Sunday.
Long before they were reunited in Townsville, the pair represented Queensland in 2014 at U20's level in State of Origin.
Both earnt NRL debuts that year, with Elliot scoring on debut for Sydney Roosters in round 17 against Holmes' Cronulla.
Fast-forward nine years and the pair are set to line up on the same edge together for the first time this season with Elliot replacing the injured Murray Taulagi at left wing for the Cowboys.
With 29-year-old Elliot having just three NRL appearances in over a year at the club, Holmes hailed his teammate's persistence ahead of his season debut.
"I actually think he's the best 18th man I've ever seen," Holmes said.
"The way he carries himself at each and every training session, not knowing if you're playing, 17th man on the bench or 18th, 19th, and the way he finds out at the end of the week what he's doing.
"Sometimes he has to travel back to Cup (Q-Cup) to play the next day and he gets on with it, plays a good game and always keeps his head up.
"It pushes our younger fellas when they see him training really well. They know that he's a veteran, an experienced player.
"Knowing it's not always going to be a starting job, just to show that you can still fight for it and earn your spot. I feel like he's the perfect definition of that."
A veteran of five NRL clubs, Elliot has played across all back-five positions.
His inclusion is one of a number of changes for the Cowboys' clash with the Bulldogs due to early season injuries and suspensions.
Peta Hiku returns at centre replacing Gehamat Shibasaki (hamstring) and Heilum Luki has been pushed into the starting side for Jeremiah Nanai (suspension).
Mitch Dunn will make his season debut off the bench after tearing his ACL early last year and Riley Price is set for a club debut in place of James Tamou (foot).
