Witzer Pre-Season Challenge: Cowboys, Knights tune up for Round 1 with wins

Bulldogs forward Josh Curran and Rabbitohs halfback Lewis Dodd face suspension, which would rule them out of their team's season opening matches.

Titans veteran Kieran Foran will also be sidelined after suffering a biceps injury.

Follow all the action from the final day of the 2025 Witzer Pre-Season Challenge on NRL.com's live blog.

Storm v Cowboys, Sunday 5.15pm at Casey Fields, Melbourne

The Cowboys warmed up for their opening premiership match against Manly with an impressive 36-24 defeat of the Storm in Melbourne.

North Queensland youngsters Tom Duffy and Jaxon Purdue did their best to convince coach Todd Payten they are the right men for the halfback and centre roles.

Melbourne fullback sensation Sua Fa'alogo failed to finish the match after suffering a hamstring strain. 

76th min: Off-season recruit Stefano Utoikamanu scored his first try in Storm colours and another former Wests Tigers forward Shawn Blore crossed as the fulltime siren sounded after regathering a Tyran Wishart kick. Cowboys 36-24

71st min: Another Storm rookie Keagan Russell-Smith impressed and the 21-year-old halfback, who is on a development contract, scored a late consolation try. Cowboys 36-14 

65th min: Things went from bad to worse for the Storm after a mix-up between rookie backs Coby Williamson and Hugo Peel while fielding a Dearden kick. The pair collided and while Williamson came away with the ball, Peel was left prone on the ground and was later taken from the ground in an ambulance.

62nd min: The Cowboys scored back-to-back tries through Viliami Vailea (60th) and Jaxson Paulo (62) to go further ahead. Cowboys 36-10

58th min: Braidon Burns finished a spectacular try to take another step towards cementing the Cowboys right wing berth after the departure of Kyle Feldt when he caught a Duffy cross-field kick to score. The lead up involved two kicks, the first by Dearden, which was batted back to Jordan McLean, who passed to Duffy as the Cowboys tried to keep the play alive. Cowboys 28-10

52nd min: Cowboys five-eighth and captain Tom Dearden dummied and stepped his way over the tryline on the short side to extend the visitors lead. Cowboys 22-10 

50th min: Fa'alogo limped from the field with a hamstring injury, which will throw open the fullback position for Melbourne's Round 1 clash with the Eels amid doubts over the availability of Ryan Papenhuyzen.

Samoan second-rower Jeremiah Nanai leads most statistics at halftime; having run 90 metres with the ball, producing two try assists and three tackle breaks.

The Cowboys have made five line-breaks to one from the Storm, whose fullback Sua Fa'alogo leads the way for running metres (69m). 

40th min: Storm sensation Sua Fa'alogo scored just before halftime to perhaps take some of the sting out of the conversations in the dressing room but Meaney missed the easiest of conversions when his kick hit the right hand upright. Cowboys 18-10 

30th min: Drinkwater punished Melbourne for their ill-discipline with his second try after Purdue sent Jeremiah Nanai racing away on a powerful run. Cowboys 18-6 

22nd min: Storm captain Harry Grant was sent to the sin bin for repeat infringements by his side and they were unable to hang on, with Jaxon Purdue regaining the lead after a quick shift of hands. Cowboys 12-6

14th min: Nick Meaney levelled the scores after Munster combined with second-rower Shawn Blore, who turned a short pass inside for the goalkicking centre to score. Storm 6 Cowboys 6 

5th min: Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater opened the scoring when he sliced between Cameron Murray and Jack Howarth for the opening try. Rookie halfback Tom Duffy added the extras from close range. Cowboys 6-0

Late Mail: Ryan Papenhuyzen has been ruled out with an ankle and knee complaint with the fullback aiming to be ready for Storm’s Round 1 clash with Parramatta Eels.

Lock Angus Hinchey will also miss today’s game due to illness.

Roosters v Knights, Sunday 3.15pm at Industree Group Stadium, Gosford

Fletcher Sharpe all but secured the Newcastle No.6 jersey for the Round 1 clash with Wests Tigers after starring in Sunday's 48-10 thumping of a near full strength Sydney Roosters outfit.

Sharpe, who scored nine tries in seven matches on the wing last season, claimed a double against the Roosters and had a hand in two others as he formed a lethal left side combination with Bradman Best.

The Knights dominated from the opening exchanges after Roosters prop Spencer Leniu was sin-binned and Trent Robinson's new look side were never in the contest.

Newcastle led 36-4 at halftime and scored two tries in the second half before Roosters halfback Sandon Smith grabbed a consolation try with an intercept.

76th min: Sandon Smith got one back for the Roosters with an intercept try but it would be little consolation for coach Trent Robinson and his players. Knights 48-10   

72nd min: Rookie centre Connor Votano intercepted an Ethan King pass and sprinted 80 metres to score. Knights 48-4

53rd min: Despite making halftime changes, Newcastle continued their domination in the second half, with backrower Thomas Cant scoring to extend the lead. Knights 42-4 

38th min: Ponga started and finished the movement that led to Newcastle's next try after picking up an offload from Marzhew before linking with Best to send James Schiller racing down the touchline. The superstar fullback backed up on the inside to receive a pass back and score untouched under the posts. Knights 36-4

35th minute: Newcastle continue to pile on the points, with hooker Jayden Brailey crashing over from dummy half. Knights 30-4

29th minute: Sharpe gets his second try as the Knights produce some razzle dazzle football, with Ponga combining with Sharpe to send Bradman Best accelerating through a gap. Sharpe backed up on the inside to score. Knights 24-4 

22nd min: Roosters coach Trent Robinson finally had something to smile about when Tongan winger Daniel Tupou finished a backline shift to score in the corner. The try featured quick hands from Victor Radley and an overhead pass from star recruit Mark Nawaqanitawase. Knights 18-4

14th min: The Knights are awarded a penalty try after Crossland grubbered behind the defence and Nat Butcher was deemed to have held back Saifiti as he chased the kick. Knights 18-0

9th min: Five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe raced 60 metres to score after winger Greg Marzhew swooped on a loose pass from James Tedesco and sent the speedster, who scored nine tries on the wing last season, sprinting away to cross for Newcastle's second try. Knights 12-0 

4th min: The Knights took advantage of back-to-back penalties to score the opening try when Jacob Saifiti spun out of an attempted to tackle by Angus Crichton near the Roosters tryline. Kalyn Ponga converted. Knights 6-0

3rd min: Roosters prop Spencer Leniu was placed on report and sent to the sinbin for a high shot on Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland in the opening exchanges. Leniu was down in back play after the tackle and will also undergo a HIA while off the field.

Late Mail: The Knights have withdrawn halfback Tyson Gamble and representative backrower Tyson Frizell in late changes to their starting line-up.

Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien said Gamble had a back injury, while Frizell has a cork.

"Gamble was scheduled to start today in the halves with Fletch but he has just got some nerve pain in his back so we just thought that given he played 40 minutes last week and he has done the whole pre-season it was just probably smart to pull him out of this one," O'Brien told Fox Sports.

"It will settle down with a needle over the next week."

Jack Cogger will partner Fletcher Sharpe in the halves, while Matt Croker starts a lock in place of Frizell.

Asked which halves pairing he was leaning towards for Round 1, O'Brien said: "That's what trials are for".