When South Africa faced New Zealand in Townsville for their 100th rugby union Test match back in 2021, North Queensland coach Todd Payten was quietly taking notes.
The Springboks' crafted strategy of a 'Bomb Squad' bench was back on display after emerging as a masterstroke tactic at the 2019 World Cup.
Almost like clockwork and sometimes down to the very minute, then South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus would change his bullocking front-rowers for fresh, fit and ferocious replacements to the dismay of opposing teams.
The Cowboys adopted a similar strategy over the now-finished State of Origin-affected period.
With up to seven players away in representative camps at a time and players returning from injury lay-offs, Payten has eased some of his stars back via the interchange.
Workhorse and Origin player of the series Reuben Cotter scored a try off the bench against Manly in round 20, three days after Origin's finale in Sydney.
Having missed the largest chunk of his career through injury, co-captain Jason Taumalolo has found himself as an impact sub in recent weeks.
Throw in former starter Griffin Neame and emerging forward Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and North Queensland's bench is one to be feared, prop Coen Hess says.
"I can only imagine what the other team is thinking," he told reporters.
"You've got big Macca (Jordan McLean) running, Reubs, and then you've got Jason Taumalolo coming on the field.
"I'd certainly hate to play against us for that exact reason."
Taumalolo is expected to transition back to a starting role as the season reaches the business end, but he has been named on the interchange for Saturday's clash with Parramatta in Townsville.
Hess said his skipper's impact is second-to-none and he backs his four substitutes over any in the NRL.
"I like to play a lot of chess and I see us as sort of the pawns - we get thrown out there early and absorb all the pressure then we get those boys on and they do their thing," he said.
"We roll those boys out and it's like to them: 'do your best.'
