Townsville junior Tom Duffy will make his NRL debut in the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys 2025 season opener against the Manly Waringah Sea Eagles in Sydney on Saturday night.
A 2021 Australian Schoolboys halfback, Duffy has been named to partner co-captain Tom Dearden in the halves and will become Cowboy No.320.
Second rower John Bateman and utility Karl Lawton have been named to make their Cowboys debuts and are set to become Cowboys No. 321 and 322 respectively.
Braidon Burns has won the race for the vacant right wing spot, while Jaxon Purdue has claimed left centre after an impressive pre-season.
Jason Taumalolo has been named in the reserves as he nears a return from off-season Lisfranc surgery.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 7.35pm (6.35pm QLD).
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Cowboys team to play Sea Eagles:
3. Jaxon Purdue
6. Tom Dearden (c)
7. Tom Duffy
9. Reece Robson
10. Sam McIntyre
11. John Bateman
12. Jeremiah Nanai
13. Reuben Cotter (c)
Interchange
14. Karl Lawton
15. Harrison Edwards
16. Griffin Neame
17. Coen Hess
Reserves
18. Kai O’Donnell
19. Jake Clifford
20. Tom Mikaele
21. Jaxson Paulo
22. Jason Taumalolo
