Cowboys NRL team list: Trial v Dolphins

North Queensland Toyota Cowboys Head Coach Todd Payten has named a 24-man squad for the club’s first trial game of the 2025 campaign on Friday night at Barlow Park in Cairns.

Coen Hess will captain the team in his return from an ACL injury. Hess missed the entire 2024 campaign after suffering the injury in the Cowboys’ second trial of the 2024 pre-season.

Recruits Jaxson Paulo, Karl Lawton and Kai O’Donnell will make their first appearances in Cowboys colours. Paulo and Lawton joined the club from Manly, while Airlie Beach product O’Donnell has returned to North Queensland via a stint in the UK Super League.

Far North Queensland products Mutua Brown and Rob Derby have been named to play in front of their home fans at fullback and wing respectively. Friday’s game will mark Brown’s first senior appearance for the Cowboys, while Derby is locked in a battle for a Round 1 wing spot for the Cowboys NRL team.

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Fellow Round 1 hopeful Tom Mikaele will partner Hess in the front row after an impressive pre-season.

Friday shapes as the first opportunity for Cowboys fans to see youngsters Asi Lenoy, Zac Herdegen, Mason Kira, Xavier Kerrisk, Nic Lenaz and Jeremiah Mata’utia at senior level.

Cowboys feeder clubs the Northern Pride and Mackay Cutters are heavily represented in Payten’s team list.

The Pride have five players in the squad including Esom Ioka, Jarrett Subloo, Adrian Treviliyan, Campbell Duffy and Dane Aukafolau, while the Cutters have four – John Radel, Rayden Burns, Brenton Baira and Ryan Rivett.

Friday’s game kicks off at 7pm (QLD).