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Cowboys v Sea Eagles: Burns back on deck; Taukeiaho returns

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Tue 14 Apr 2026, 04:32 PM

Two in-form sides open Round 7 in a contest that promises to deliver plenty of points and plenty of free-flowing footy in Townsville.

With their team riding a four-game winning streak ad scoring 125 points in the process, the Cowboys faithful are sure to be out in force to watch Scott Drinkwater, Jaxon Purdue and Tom Dearden do their thing,

The battle in the middle between Jason Taumalolo (156m per game) and Taniela Paseka (135m per game) should be an absolute beauty and both sides boast quality edge back-rowers in Heilum Luki and Haumole Olakau'atu.

Just as the Cowboys have hit a purple patch after a sluggish 0-2 start so too the Sea Eagles, who were languishing at 0-3 before Kieran Foran took the reins and sparked victories over the Dolphins and Dragons.

The Sea Eagles won both clashes between the sides last season and have a 4-0 record over the Cowboys at QCB Stadium so the trip north won't faze the boys from Brookie.

Round 7 - Round 7 - Thursday 16 Apr

9:50 am

Cowboys

Sea Eagles

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

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Team News

Cowboys: Braidon Burns (ankle) returns to the wing in a straight swap for Murray Taulagi (concussion). After coming into the game much earlier than expected last week for Reed Mahoney, who also suffered a head knock, Soni Luke has been named to start at hooker. Sam McIntyre returns to the six-player bench after missing last week’s game with a torn plantar fascia. Viliami Vailea is the other new face on the bench, with young gun Mason Barber named in the 19 once again.

Sea Eagles: Siosiua Taukeiaho makes his return from a calf injury via the bench having been sidelined since Round 1. Nathan Brown grabs a place on the six-man interchange after returning from illness in NSW Cup last week.

Round 7 - Round 7 - Thursday 16 Apr

9:50 am

Cowboys

Sea Eagles

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Braidon Burns

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Jaxon Purdue

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Tom Chester

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Zac Laybutt

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Jake Clifford

Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Tom Dearden

Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Coen Hess

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Soni Luke

Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Brandon Wakeham
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jason Taumalolo

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Kobe Hetherington
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Heilum Luki

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Kai O'Donnell

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter

Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange

Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Sam McIntyre

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Griffin Neame

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey Waddell
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Thomas Mikaele

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Matthew Lodge

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Siosiua Taukeiaho
Interchange for Cowboys is number 18 Viliami Vailea

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Nathan Brown
Interchange for Cowboys is number 19 Mason Barber

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Clayton Faulalo

Reserves

Reserve for Cowboys is number 20 Harrison Edwards

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Jackson Shereb
Reserve for Cowboys is number 21 Kaiden Lahrs

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Joey Walsh
Reserve for Cowboys is number 22 Robert Derby

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Simione Laiafi

Braidon Burns
Kaiden Lahrs
Mason Barber
Sam McIntyre
Viliami Vailea

Jackson Shereb
Joey Walsh
Nathan Brown
Siosiua Taukeiaho

Murray Taulagi
Reed Mahoney

Paul Bryan

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
Senior Review Official: Wyatt Raymond

Last updated: 4/14/2026 8:22:24 AM

Stat Attack

The Cowboys are chasing five consecutive wins for the first time since 2023.
The Sea Eagles have won their last three games against the Cowboys.
Cowboys centre Jaxon Purdue has scored five tries in his last five games.
Sea Eagles winger Jason Saab has scored six tries in his last three games against the Cowboys.
Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater will play his 150th game for the club.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.