NRL 2026, North Queensland Cowboys, Melbourne Storm, round 4, match preview, official team lists, injuries, updates

Cowboys v Storm: Laybutt returns; Loiero to start

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Tue 24 Mar 2026, 04:31 PM

North Queensland are out to keep the momentum rolling when they face a desperate Melbourne Storm on Saturday night.

The Cowboys claimed their first win of the year when they toppled Gold Coast last weekend and they have their sights on two-in-a-row at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

With Maroons halfback Tom Dearden pulling the strings, North Queensland unleashed their lethal outside backs to run in five tries to three.

The Cowboys will again turn to their speedsters as they look to breakdown the Storm defensive line.

Fullback Scott Drinkwater and emerging talent Jaxon Purdue will be central to the team's attacking intent.

Melbourne travel north desperate to rebound following last week's loss to the Broncos at AAMI Park.

The Storm led 14-0 at half-time before succumbing to a Brisbane comeback and coach Craig Bellamy will spend the week ensuring there is no repeat on Saturday night.

Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes will look to lead an attack that created plenty of chances in Round 3 but struggled to convert opportunities into points.

Round 4 - Round 4 - Saturday 28 Mar

8:35 am

Cowboys

Storm

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

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Team News

Cowboys: Zac Laybutt joins the starting side at centre in place of Tom Chester, who is serving a one-game ban for a high tackle. Tom Mikaele has overcome a knee injury to be named on the bench along with Harrison Edwards who played Queensland Cup last week.

Storm: Trent Loiero is back in the starting side at lock after making his return from suspension via the bench last week. Fijian enforcer Tui Kamikamica reverts to the interchange alongside Tyran Wishart, Cooper Clarke, Davvy Moale, Jack Hetherington and Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown

Round 4 - Round 4 - Saturday 28 Mar

8:35 am

Cowboys

Storm

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Sualauvi Faalogo
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Braidon Burns

Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Jaxon Purdue

Centre for Storm is number 3 Jack Howarth
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Zac Laybutt

Centre for Storm is number 4 Moses Leo
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi

Winger for Storm is number 5 Nick Meaney
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Jake Clifford

Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Tom Dearden

Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Forwards

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Coen Hess

Prop for Storm is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reed Mahoney

Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jason Taumalolo

Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh King
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Heilum Luki

2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Joe Chan
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Sam McIntyre

2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Alec MacDonald
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter

Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent Loiero

Interchange

Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Soni Luke

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Tyran Wishart
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Kai O'Donnell

Interchange for Storm is number 15 Cooper Clarke
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Griffin Neame

Interchange for Storm is number 16 Tui Kamikamica
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Harrison Edwards

Interchange for Storm is number 17 Davvy Moale
Interchange for Cowboys is number 18 Thomas Mikaele

Interchange for Storm is number 18 Jack Hetherington
Interchange for Cowboys is number 19 Liam Sutton

Interchange for Storm is number 19 Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown

Reserves

Reserve for Cowboys is number 20 Kaiden Lahrs

Reserve for Storm is number 20 Lazarus Vaalepu
Reserve for Cowboys is number 21 Matthew Lodge

Reserve for Storm is number 21 Manaia Waitere
Reserve for Cowboys is number 22 Robert Derby

Reserve for Storm is number 22 Trent Toelau