You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content

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. 

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:

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.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

Premier Partner

Media Partners

Major Partners

View All Partners