Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 1 clash between the Sea Eagles and Cowboys.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Many-Warringah Sea Eagles Vs North Queensland Cowboys
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Date: Saturday, March 8, 7:35 pm (ADST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Dean Matterson 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 21. Jakob Arthur 22. Josh Aloiai
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Thomas Duffy 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Sam McIntyre 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Karl Lawton 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 18. Kai O’Donnell 19. Jake Clifford 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Jaxson Paulo 22. Jason Taumalolo
Referee: Peter Gough
Bunker: Ashley Klein
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
Now that the Vegas theatrics are out of the way, the rest of the teams start their run towards premiership glory. After making it to the second week of the finals, the Sea Eagles will be confident they can go to the grand final, especially with the nucleus of their 2024 side and a few new faces.
Daly Cherry-Evans is in his 15th season and will be hoping his partnership with Luke Brooks can go the extra mile this season. Coach Anthony Seibold has given Tom Trbojevic the number one jersey, despite whispers in the off-season of a positional change. His heir apparent, Lehi Hopoate, will start the season on the wing.
Looking at the Sea Eagles team list, hooker Lachlan Croker is out with a knee injury – he has been replaced with former Warrior Jazz Tavaga. Jake Simpkin gets the chance to prove himself as a back-up hooker from the bench. After his stint in the Super League, Siosiua Taukeiaho has been named in the front-row alongside Taniela Paseka, who was in doubt due to a shoulder injury.
Like their opponents, the Cowboys made it to the second week of the finals. A few of the ‘old guard’ have left, such as Valentine Holmes and Kyle Feldt. Their replacements, Braidon Burns and Jaxon Purdue, will be looking at making the wing and centre positions their own this season.
Former Sea Eagle Karl Lawton goes up against his old side, hoping to prove he has what it takes to be the utility for the Cowboys. New recruit John Bateman starts in the second row due to a season-ending injury to Heilum Luki. Jason Taumololo has been named in the reserves but is still recovering from a Lisfranc (foot) injury.
There are two big clashes in this match. The first is in the halves with Cherry-Evans and Brooks vs Duffy and Dearden. Duffy is the inexperienced player of the four, but having Dearden outside him will give him confidence. For his first game in the top grade, all Duffy has to do is get the team where they need to go and feed the ball to the players who call for it. The rest will take of itself. Brooks and Cherry-Evans were on a tear last season and no doubt they will want to get their team off to a good start.
The other clash is between the back row. Though they are missing Luki, having an international player the calibre of Bateman doesn’t hurt. They will have their hands full with Olakau’atu and the Trbojevic brothers. The clash between Jake and Reuben Cotter will no doubt whet out appetite for Origin, even though it is only round one.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Sea Eagles by 10 points.
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
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