NRL 2025, round 13, North Queensland Cowboys, Wests Tigers, official team lists, injuries, updates

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Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 31 May 2025, 04:39 PM

With two wins, two losses and a draw at home this season the Cowboys are out to make Queensland Country Bank Stadium a fortress in the back half of the year as they chase a third finals appearance in four years.

Todd Payten's men have seven more games on their home patch including back-to-back blockbusters against the Storm and Bulldogs in Round 18-19 but the charge needs to start this weekend against Wests Tigers.

A total of 148 points were scored in the two matches between the sides last season, with the Cowboys winning both, so another free-flowing contest is on the cards with Scott Drinkwater, Jaxon Purdue, Jahream Bula and Sunia Turuva matching motors.

Wests Tigers have looked a vastly improved side in 2025 with recruits Terrell May, Jarome Luai and Turuva bringing plenty to the table, but they are still giving up 25 points per game which won't cut it if they hope to be part of the finals action.

Round 13 - Saturday 31st May

Full Time

Cowboys

Wests Tigers

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

Highlights Latest

Team News

Cowboys: Maroons trio Tom Dearden, Jeremiah Nanai and Reuben Cotter and Blues hooker Reece Robson have all been named in the starting side and coach Todd Payten confirmed on Friday that they will all back up. Jaxson Paulo comes in for his first game as a Cowboy with Murray Taulagi (calf) sidelined. Sam McIntyre moves to prop and Coen Hess to the bench with Cotter coming in at lock after missing the loss to Manly due to suspension. Jake Clifford is 18th man.

Wests Tigers: The Tigers are 1-17 with no late changes. Samuela Fainu returns from a knee injury suffered in Round 11, before last week's bye. Young gun Heath Mason is set for his first NRL match since Round 1 after being named to replace Lachlan Galvin at five-eighth. Tristan Hope is the 18th man.

Round 13 - Saturday 31st May

Full Time

Cowboys

Wests Tigers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Robert Derby

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Zac Laybutt

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Adam Doueihi
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Viliami Vailea

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'a
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Jaxson Paulo

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Charlie Staines
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Jaxon Purdue

Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Heath Mason
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Tom Dearden

Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jarome Luai

Forwards

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson

Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Sam McIntyre

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Royce Hunt
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 John Bateman

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Alex Seyfarth
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter

Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal

Interchange

Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Harrison Edwards

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Brent Naden
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Kai O'Donnell

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Jack Bird
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Griffin Neame

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Sione Fainu
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Coen Hess

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Tony Sukkar

Reserves

Replacement for Cowboys is number 18 Jake Clifford

Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Tristan Hope

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated: 10:40 am Sunday 1st June 2025

Stat Attack

The Cowboys have won five of their past six games against Wests Tigers.
Wests Tigers have lost their last three games at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Cowboys winger Robert Derby has scored six tries in four games at QCB Stadium.
Wests Tigers fullback Jahream Bula has scored four tries in four games against the Cowboys.
Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater has scored seven tries in his last nine games against Wests Tigers.

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