The Sea Eagles are in Townsville preparing to play the Cowboys on Saturday night, and aiming to do the double over North Queensland this season.
Match: Cowboys v Sea Eagles
Round 11 -
home Team
Cowboys
7th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
9th Position
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Results would suggest a contrast in form between these two teams through the first 10 rounds, and certainly since they last met in Round 1.
While the Sea Eagles enjoyed a great start, winning three of their first four games, they have saluted just once in their past five outings.
The Cowboys, however, have lost only one of their past six games, after losing their first three.
One of those losses for Todd Payten’s men was at 4 Pines Park, when they were thumped 42-12 in a spectacular season-opener at Brookvale.
While the Cowboys will be hoping for a much different outcome this time around, it’s interesting to note that Manly will field an almost identical lineup to the team that ran riot against the Cowboys on March 8.
The only change in fact to the run-on team from that match is Ethan Bullemor starting up front in place of the injured Taniela Paseka.
Always a lot of chat around Origin selection at this time of year, and both teams have a handful of players in contention for either New South Wales or Queensland.
Two such players are respective team captains Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Dearden who will oppose each other on Saturday night, in what could be a shootout for the Maroons No.7 jersey.
Manly’s record in Townsville, unlike many other teams, is pretty good. The Cowboys haven’t beaten the Sea Eagles in Townsville since 2016, and Manly have won all three games played at their new home, Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Manly enters this match off a disappointing 30-14 loss to the Sharks at Brookvale, which followed a bye in Magic Round and a terrific win against the Panthers in Round 8.
The Cowboys are coming off an energy-sapping, 90-minute slugfest against the Panthers, which ended in a 30-30 draw at this same ground.
Prior to that they had a narrow loss to the Warriors in Brisbane, after scoring 44 unanswered points to thump the Titans the week before.
In team news Ethan Bullemor has been named as a starting for Manly prop with Jake Trbojevic reverting to lock and Jazz Tevaga returning to hooker. Caleb Navale comes back into the team replacing Clayton Faulalo on the interchange.
Jaxon Purdue has shifted from centre to five-eighth for the Cowboys Dearden to play halfback. Zac Laybutt comes into the centres and is set for his first NRL match since tearing his ACL in Round 5 last year.
Match: Cowboys v Sea Eagles
Round 11 -
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 Robert DerbyWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Zac LaybuttCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Viliami VaileaCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray TaulagiWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
-
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Jaxon PurdueFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
-
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Tom DeardenHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLeanProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Ethan Bullemor
-
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece RobsonHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jazz Tevaga
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Coen HessProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 John Bateman2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
-
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Sam McIntyreLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Harrison EdwardsInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Thomas MikaeleInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey Waddell
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Griffin NeameInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Caleb Navale
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Kai O'DonnellInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Nathan Brown
Reserves
-
Replacement for Cowboys is number 18 Jake CliffordReplacement for Sea Eagles is number 18 Michael Chee Kam
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Zone
- The Cowboys have not defeated the Sea Eagles in Townsville since 2016.
- The Sea Eagles have won six of their past eight games against the Cowboys.
- The Cowboys have scored 110 points in their last three games at this venue.
- Jason Saab has scored five tries in his last five games against the Cowboys.
- Cowboys winger Robert Derby has scored five tries in his last three games.
