Match Preview: NRL Round 7 vs Cowboys

Author: Manly Media
Timestamp: Wed 15 Apr 2026, 12:47 PM

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles take on the Cowboys in Townsville on Thursday night in Round 7 of the NRL Telstra Premiership.

Round 7 - Round 7 - Thursday 16 Apr

9:50 am

Cowboys

Sea Eagles

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

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Team Lists Get Tickets

After a slow start to the season Manly have put together back-to-back wins in the past fortnight, defeating the Dolphins and the Dragons under the guidance of new interim head coach, Kieran Foran.

North Queensland are also travelling well and are one of the form teams in the competition having strung together four straight wins, against the Titans, Storm, Dragons and Broncos.

Like Manly, the Cowboys also had a sluggish start to the new season, with losses to the Knights and Tigers in the opening two rounds.

'Bully' scored one of his team's seven tries against the Cowboys at 4 Pines Park in 2025

The Sea Eagles have won 61% of games played against the Cowboys since their entry into the competition in 1995 and have won all four games against the Cowboys at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Manly won both games against the Cowboys last season, thumping them 42-12 in Round 1 at 4 Pines Park, before a second half shutout and a 24-6 win at QCB Stadium in Round 11.

Jason Saab bagged a double against the Cowboys at QCB Stadium in 2025

In team news, a boost for Manly with experienced prop Siua Taukeiaho returning from a calf injury in an otherwise unchanged lineup.

Jaxon Purdue crossed for two tries against the Dragons in Round 5, 2026

Key changes for the Cowboys see Braidon Burns return from an ankle injury on the wing replacing Murray Taulagi (HIA), and Soni Luke replacing Reed Mahoney (HIA) at hooker.

Both teams are on a six-day turnaround having won their Round 6 games last Friday night.

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 Zone

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.