The Cowboys have their sights on a happy homecoming while the Panthers are eager to climb the NRL ladder when the two sides face off in Townsville on Saturday night.
North Queensland’s four-match winning streak came to an end last weekend when they fell short of a miraculous comeback against the Warriors but they have the luxury of returning to Queensland Country Bank Stadium this weekend.
Penrith scored a confidence-boosting victory over Brisbane during Magic Round, with Nathan Cleary pulling the strings in his best performance of the year.
The Panthers hope it was the spark for a climb up the ladder and they have the chance to claim back-to-back wins for the first time this year during Saturday’s Women in League Round clash.
Match: Cowboys v Panthers
Round 10 –
home Team
Cowboys
9thPosition
away Team
Panthers
15thPosition
Venue:Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Cowboys: The Cowboys announced on Friday morning that prop Jason Taumalolo has been ruled out of clash with a calf injury. Coen Hess comes into the starting side as a result, while Kai O’Donnell will come into the 17. Sam McIntyre will start the game at lock in place of co-captain Reuben Cotter, who is serving a two-game ban for a careless high tackle. Thomas Mikaele has been named on the bench for his first NRL game of 2025 after a strong run of form in the Queensland Cup with the Mackay Cutters. No further changes in Friday’s 24-hour update with Zac Laybutt and Semi Valemai remaining in the extended squad.
Panthers: A huge boost for the premiers with Brian To’o set for his first game since Round 4 after recovering from a hamstring injury while hooker Mitch Kenny (suspension) and utility Brad Schneider (eye) are also back on deck. Thomas Jenkins has moved to the interchange while Trent Toelau, Luke Sommerton and Mavrik Geyer drop out of the 17. No changes in Friday’s team update with Sommerton and Matthew Eisenhuth remaining in the reserves.
Match: Cowboys v Panthers
Round 10 –
home Team
Cowboys
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Cowboys is number 1ScottDrinkwater
1
Fullback for Panthers is number 1DylanEdwards -
Winger for Cowboys is number 2RobertDerby
2
Winger for Panthers is number 2PaulAlamoti -
Centre for Cowboys is number 3JaxonPurdue
3
Centre for Panthers is number 3IzackTago -
Centre for Cowboys is number 4ViliamiVailea
4
Centre for Panthers is number 4LukeGarner -
Winger for Cowboys is number 5MurrayTaulagi
5
Winger for Panthers is number 5BrianTo’o -
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6TomDearden
6
Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6BlaizeTalagi -
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7JakeClifford
7
Halfback for Panthers is number 7NathanCleary
Forwards
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 8JordanMcLean
8
Prop for Panthers is number 8MosesLeota -
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9ReeceRobson
9
Hooker for Panthers is number 9MitchKenny -
Prop for Cowboys is number 17CoenHess
1710
Prop for Panthers is number 10LindsaySmith -
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11JohnBateman
11
2nd Row for Panthers is number 11IsaiahPapali’i -
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12JeremiahNanai
12
2nd Row for Panthers is number 12LiamMartin -
Lock for Cowboys is number 13SamMcIntyre
13
Lock for Panthers is number 13IsaahYeo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 14HarrisonEdwards
14
Interchange for Panthers is number 14BradSchneider -
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15ThomasMikaele
15
Interchange for Panthers is number 15LiamHenry -
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16GriffinNeame
16
Interchange for Panthers is number 16LuronPatea -
Interchange for Cowboys is number 22KaiO’Donnell
2217
Reserves
-
Replacement for Cowboys is number 18ZacLaybutt
18
Replacement for Panthers is number 18LukeSommerton -
Reserve for Cowboys is number 20SemiValemei
2019
Reserve for Panthers is number 19MatthewEisenhuth
Cowboys Ins
- KaiO’Donnell
- SemiValemei
- ThomasMikaele
InsPanthers Ins
- BradSchneider
- BrianTo’o
- MatthewEisenhuth
- MitchKenny
Cowboys Outs
- JasonTaumalolo
- ReubenCotter
OutsPanthers Ins
- CaseyMcLean
- MavrikGeyer
- TrentToelau
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Cowboys have won four of their past six games against the Panthers.
- The Panthers have won only one of their past four games at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
- Cowboys centre Jaxon Purdue has scored seven tries in his last six games.
- Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored seven tries in six games against the Cowboys.
- Cowboys prop Jason Taumalolo will play his 50th game at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
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