The Sea Eagles held on for a gritty 24-6 victory over the Cowboys in Townsville, but NSW fans will be holding their breath after Haumole Olakau’atu was placed on report for an unusual scorpion kick that struck Murray Taulagi’s head.
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MATCH CENTRE: Cowboys vs Sea Eagles teams, scores, videos, updates
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While Olakau’atu may not have much to answer for, the Blues took a massive blow to their State of Origin chances for the series opener when Jake Trbojevic was forced from the field following a serious head knock.
The Sea Eagles started with a bang and threatened to break the game wide open with their deadly attack down the flanks, however the Cowboys defended well and kept the visitors to just one try in the first half.
Tom Dearden wore the Cowboys’ No.7 jersey for the first time since round 25, 2021, and looked right at home as North Queensland’s game manager.
Despite losing 26 of his past 27 games as a starting halfback, Dearden played without fear as he masterminded raids down both edges of the field.
HOLY HAUMOLE
While the two clubs were both desperate to secure the win, a number of individual battles were taking place with Origin approaching, including Olakau’atu and Jeremiah Nanai going toe-to-toe.
Manly’s man-mountain Olakau’atu was superb on the right edge, creating his team’s first try when he scooped up a Zac Laybutt error and ran 30 metres before finding the speed of Jason Saab in support, while Nanai was kept quiet in comparison.
Olakau’atu was placed on report after a strange scorpion kick connected with Taulagi’s head as the backrower was fighting for a quick play-the-ball, giving him an anxious wait for news from the judiciary.
JAKE GETS SHAKEN
Jake Trbojevic was badly rattled after getting his head caught in an awkward position while attempting a tackle on Murray Taulagi, taking the full force of the Samoan winger’s shoulder.
Trbojevic, who started all three games for NSW in 2024, was eventually helped off the field by trainers and he will have to undergo the mandatory stand-down period after the category 1 HIA.
With only 11 days until the State of Origin series opener in Brisbane, Trbojevic will not have time to complete the NRL’s concussion protocols to play in game one.
MASTER AND APPRENTICE
The two skippers on Saturday night – both wearing the No.7 for their team – represent the past and the future of the Queensland Maroons.
Daly Cherry-Evans has made 25 appearances for the Maroons in a glittering representative career, but Dearden is in the type of form that simply can’t be ignored.
Dearden had another typically talismanic showing, having a hand in everything that went well for his team including throwing a perfect cut-out pass for North Queensland’s first try.
Cherry-Evans’ kicking game was exceptional, especially in attack where one of the veteran’s pinpoint punts set up Saab’s second try of the game.
MISFIRING TURBO
NSW hopeful Tom Trbojevic struggled to involve himself in the game, making five errors including a knock on to halt what looked like a certain try in the first set of the game after the Sea Eagles found space down the left edge.
Trbojevic bombed another two tries as the game went on, with the worst mistake coming with no defenders in front of him when Caleb Navale burst through the line.
The Sea Eagles fullback has now failed to score in four consecutive matches for the first time since a seven-game drought from round 19, 2019, to round 1, 2020.Trbojevic made just six runs in the first half for 43m, failed to break a tackle over the course of 80 minutes, and was sent to the sin bin in the final seconds of the game for delaying play.
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MATCH PREVIEW
Tom Dearden and the North Queensland Cowboys host Daly Cherry-Evans and the Manly Sea Eagles in a blockbuster clash at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Both teams are 1-17.
In a major change, Jaxon Purdue has been named at five-eighth at the expense of Jake Clifford who has been named in the No.18 jersey. Tom Dearden will wear the No.7 and shift to halfback in what shapes as a huge audition for the 24-year-old in the race for a Queensland spot. Dearden played all three games for the Maroons in 2024 and was one of their better performers at five-eighth, filling in for the injured Cameron Munster. Munster is an automatic selection for Billy Slater, but is Daly Cherry-Evans a certain starter? It’d be a huge call, but the Sea Eagles veteran has been down on form in recent weeks with his contract situation potential burdening the halfback. “The DCE thing, you can’t help but think it is serving as a distraction,” Matty Johns said on the Matty Johns show. Cherry-Evans is likely still the No.1 choice to partner Munster, but that doesn’t rule out Dearden’s chances of featuring in Game I in 2025. The tough and talented playmaker is the frontrunner to win a spot on the bench, which has been vacated after a hamstring injury to veteran Ben Hunt which will see him miss the series opener. Dearden has the ability to play in both halves position and is a true competitor, likely being able to be injected into the middle of the park and give Harry Grant a rest at hooker. “He’s pretty much a young version of Ben Hunt, plays in the halves but can play a little bit of 9 as well,” Queensland legend Cameron Smith said on 100% Footy. “He is a tough customer, built for Origin, we’ve seen what he’s produced for Queensland already. You could throw him anywhere, through the halves, No.9, even through the middle as an extra ball-playing 13. I think he’ll do well.” Meanwhile, Purdue’s selection in the halves could mark a changing of the guard at the Cowboys. The 19-year-old is set to become a free agent come November 1 and the young gun has harboured a desire to play in the halves. If he delivers, the Cowboys have a long-term halves pairing ready to go in Purdue and Dearden. He could also attract big offers from rival clubs. News of Clifford’s axing stunned Fox League’s Paul Crawley. “I was shocked because I thought he’d been in pretty good form this year,” he said on NRL 360.” The Cowboys turned the corner and that coincided with his comeback.” “You’ve got the young bloke in the centres, who’s a potential superstar, he played his juniors in the halves and there’s probably pressure to give him a go.” Gorden Tallis meanwhile described the move as “strange”. “Their last month of footy has been their best month of footy,” he said. “Purdue is a special talent. If he’s a natural half and they want to extend him then maybe that’s part of the thinking,” The Australian’s Andrew Webster added. Clifford, meanwhile, could sign with another club for next season. Elsewhere, Zac Laybutt takes up the vacant centre spot, featuring in his first NRL game since he ruptured his ACL in Round 5 last season.
Jake Trbojevic shifts to lock as the NSW captain looks to return to form in time to hold his Blues spot. That sees Jazz Tevaga shift to hooker and Ethan Bullemor to No. 8 as Jake Simpkin shifts to the bench. Caleb Navale replaces Clayton Faulalo on the pine while veteran prop Matthew Lodge is on the extended bench.
TEAMS
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jaxon Purdue 7. Tom Dearden 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Sam McIntyre 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Griffin Neame 17. Kai O’Donnell. 18th man: 18. Jake Clifford
Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Ethan Bullemor 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Caleb Navale 17. Nathan Brown. 18th man: 18. Michael Chee Kam
