Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 20 clash between Sea Eagles and Cowboys.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Vs North Queensland Cowboys
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Brookvale
Date: Saturday 15 July, 5:30pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Sea Eagles: 1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Dean Matterson 15. Aaron Woods 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Josh Aloiai 18. Sean Keppie 19. Morgan Harper 20. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 21. Jakob Arthur 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Semi Valemei 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Jason Taumalolo 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 18. Kyle Feldt 19. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 20. Zac Laybutt 21. Sam McIntyre 22. Riley Price 23. Ben Hampton 24. Brendan Elliot
Referee: Adam Gee
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
In what could be an edge-of-your-seat match, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles take on the North Queensland Cowboys at 4 Pines Park on Saturday night.
Both teams are coming off a bye and will be vying for a spot in the top 8, with only one point difference between the two teams.
Having won only two of their last five games and with a narrow defeat over the Roosters in their previous match 18-16, the Sea Eagles could be facing tough opposition against the Cowboys.
The Sea Eagles will line up virtually unchanged, bringing the same winning team that took on the Roosters, but will need to provide some solid defense to fight off a powerful Cowboys side.
Backing up from Origin, Daly Cherry-Evans, who has averaged 462 kicking metres just this season, will team up with Jason Saab and Reuben Garrick in the backlines.
The blistering speed of Saab averaging 111 running metres, Garrick averaging 143 running metres combined with Cherry-Evans’ kicking game will certainly test the stamina and endurance of the Cowboys.
Reuben Garrick is also a key player for the Sea Eagles, bringing his brilliant kicking game, being one of the NRL’s best goal-kickers.
Lachlan Croker and Jake Trbojevic will bring the primal force to their forward pack against a rock-hard Cowboys defensive line.
Dean Matterson will make his NRL debut in place of Ben Trbojevic, who is out due to a hamstring strain at training. He is expected to be out for three weeks.
The ninth-placed Cowboys will be feeling focused and confident as they return from their bye and still on a high from their previous stampede over the Tigers 74-0.
They seem to have found their feet late in the season and will look to bring home another win on Saturday night.
Valentine Holmes and Murray Taulagi, who have returned from Origin duties, will be teaming up with Scott Drinkwater, who will bring his remarkable kicking game.
While providing impact to an already solid forward pack, Jeremiah Nanai could assist in foiling a Sea Eagles victory. The returning Origin player has already made 249 defensive tackles this season, averaging 102 running meters.
The Cowboys may look to their interchange players Jake Granville and the likes of Jason Taumalolo to provide extra backing and leadership if needed.
Jason Taumalolo may certainly be the reinforcement the Cowboys need, having made 26 tackle breaks just this season with 503 post-contact meters and averaging 157 running meters.
Predicting the result of this game may be like a game of chess, who will make the right moves?
It might come down to the returning Origin players from both teams that could make all the difference as to who will bring home the win on Saturday.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Sea Eagles 5, Cowboys 5
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Cowboys by 6 points.
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