Purdue chases No.6 jumper as young guns set sights on Vegas call-up
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Cowboys youngster Jaxon Purdue has emerged as the frontrunner to partner Tom Dearden in Las Vegas after being named at five-eighth for the side’s opening Witzer Pre-Season Challenge match.
The 20-year-old will combine with Jake Clifford in the halves against the Bulldogs on Saturday night as he looks to continue his development as a playmaker.
Purdue split his time between five-eighth and centre last season but there are hopes his long-term future lies in the halves alongside Dearden.
North Queensland will open their season against the Knights at Allegiant Stadium on February 28.
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Coach Todd Payten has named a deep forward pack for the pre-season clash at Jubilee Oval, with Thomas Mikaele to captain the side.
Harrison Edwards will join him in the front row, while Heilum Luki and Kai O’Donnell will start in the back row and Sam McIntyre at lock.
Luki missed the entire 2025 season with an ACL injury and is set for his first appearance since September 2024.
Match: Bulldogs v Cowboys
Round 1 -
home Team
Bulldogs
away Team
Cowboys
Venue: Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
North Queensland will take on a youthful Canterbury side led by prop Daniel Suluka-Fifita and former Sea Eagle Gordon Chan Kum Tong.
Aaymon Fitzgibbon, the son of Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon, has been named on the bench, with young halves Alex Conti and Joseph Teaupa handed an early chance to impress.
The Cowboys clash with Canterbury will be followed by a battle between St George Illawarra and Newcastle.
Knights playmakers Sandon Smith and Fletcher Sharpe will start in the halves in a shootout to partner Dylan Brown in Las Vegas.
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Smith will make his first appearance for the Knights after joining from the Roosters in the off-season, while Sharpe is preparing for his first match since suffering serious kidney and spleen injuries in Round 16 last year.
The duo have been locked in a battle for the right to team up with Brown for much of the summer, with coach Justin Holbrook placing a heavy emphasis on performances during the Pre-Season Challenge.
Former Raider Trey Mooney will line up for his first game as a Knight, while Pasami Saulo is also back in a Newcastle jumper after three years in Canberra.
Emerging talent Jermaine McEwen will start in the second row, with promising hooker Harrison Graham to wear the No.9 jumper after moving south from the Dolphins.
Match: Dragons v Knights
Round 1 -
home Team
Dragons
away Team
Knights
Venue: Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
The Dragons have also named a mix of youth and experience, with emerging halfback Kade Reed to steer the side in the No.7 jumper alongside five-eighth Lyhkan King-Togia.
Off-season recruits David Fale (centre) and Setu Tu (wing) have a chance to play their way into the Vegas side, while Josh Kerr will start at prop in his return to St George Illawarra.
Twins Toby and Ryan Couchman are back on deck, with emerging forward Loko Pasifiki Tonga named on an extended bench.
