Cowboys v Sea Eagles: Burns back on deck; Taukeiaho returns
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.
Match: Cowboys v Sea Eagles
Round 7 -
home Team
Cowboys
11th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
6th Position
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
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. Kaiden Lahrs and Mason Barber dropped out in the 24-hour update. No late changes for the Cowboys with Rob Derby the last man to make way 90 minutes before kick-off.
Sea Eagles: Nathan Brown has dropped off the bench on game day with Clayton Faulalo and Jackson Shereb rounding out the 19. Jake Trbojevic will play despite suffering a nasty cut that forced him to lose vision in his right eye last week. Prop Siosiua Taukeiaho is also set to complete his comeback from a calf injury that has sidelined him since Round 1. Winger Jason Saab has scored six tries in his last three games against the Cowboys. Joey Walsh and Simione Laiafi came out of the squad on Wednesday.
Match: Cowboys v Sea Eagles
Round 7 -
home Team
Cowboys
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott DrinkwaterFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Braidon BurnsWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Jaxon PurdueCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Tom ChesterCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Zac LaybuttWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
-
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Jake CliffordFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
-
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Tom DeardenHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Coen HessProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
-
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Soni LukeHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Brandon Wakeham
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jason TaumaloloProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Kobe Hetherington
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Heilum Luki2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Kai O'Donnell2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
-
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben CotterLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Sam McIntyreInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Griffin NeameInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey Waddell
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Thomas MikaeleInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Siosiua Taukeiaho
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Matthew LodgeInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Clayton Faulalo
Reserves
-
Reserve for Cowboys is number 18 Viliami VaileaReserve for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
-
Reserve for Cowboys is number 20 Harrison EdwardsReserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Jackson Shereb
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Wyatt Raymond
Last updated:
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.
