NRL 2023, Manly Sea Eagles, North Queensland Cowboys, round 20 preview, official team lists, injuries updates

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 15 Jul 2023, 04:29 PM

Plenty to play for as two sides on the fringe of the eight lock horns on a Saturday night at 4 Pines Park.

The ninth-placed Cowboys are one point clear of the 10th-placed Sea Eagles and have fond memories of their last trip to Brookvale - a 28-26 win in Round 15 last year when they scored three tries in the last seven minutes to snatch a remarkable victory.

Both teams are coming off a bye and both have key players who will look to back up after Origin III, a crucial factor in who comes out on top on Saturday night.

Not only do the Sea Eagles need a win but they also need to give their points differential a kick along - their for and against of -24 is 62 worse than the Cowboys (+38) and well behind the Rabbitohs (+92) who sit eighth and the seventh-placed Eels (+96).

The last two meetings between these sides have produced a total of 118 points and with so many attacking weapons on show the 4 Pines crowd is in for a free flowing contest.

Sportsbet Betting Preview - Sea Eagles v Cowboys

Team News

Sea Eagles: Coach Anthony Seibold confirmed on Friday that skipper Daly Cherry-Evans and star forward Jake Trbojevic will back up after Origin III. A new face on the bench with 25-year-old Dean Matterson to make his NRL debut in place of Ben Trbojevic (hamstring). Josh Aloiai was promoted to the starting side in the 24-hour update, with Toafofoa Sipley dropping back to the bench.

Cowboys: Coach Todd Payten has named the same 17 that piled on 74 points against Wests Tigers before the bye, with Maroons stars Reuben Cotter, Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi and Jeremiah Nanai all good to go. The lone change on Saturday sees Jake Granville promoted to the starting side at lock, with Cotter moving back to the interchange.

Round 20 - Round 20 - Saturday 15 Jul

Full Time

Sea Eagles

Cowboys

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Reuben Garrick

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab

Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Semi Valemei
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker

Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine Holmes
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Tolutau Koula

Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Peta Hiku
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu

Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Joshua Schuster

Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom Dearden
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans

Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend

Forwards

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker

Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 17 Josh Aloiai

Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Coen Hess
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu

2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Luciano Leilua
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Kelma Tuilagi

2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Lock for Cowboys is number 14 Jake Granville

Interchange

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 10 Toafofoa Sipley

Interchange for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dean Matterson

Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Griffin Neame
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Aaron Woods

Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor

Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

Reserves

Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 21 Jake Arthur

Replacement for Cowboys is number 19 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown

Match Officials

Referee: Adam Gee
Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:25:58 PM

Stat Attack

Only Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson (293) has kicked the ball more times than Cowboy Chad Townsend (252) in 2023.
The Cowboys have won just two of eight away games this season (Roosters in Round 10, Rabbitohs in Round 17).
The Sea Eagles have won four of their past five games against the Cowboys.
The Cowboys have scored 177 points in their past four games.
Sea Eagles fullback Reuben Garrick has scored 46 points in his past three games against the Cowboys.
The Sea Eagles have won five from seven at 4 Pines Park in 2023.