The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys travel to Sydney to face the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles to begin the 2025 season on Saturday night.
1. DUFFY DEBUT
He’s been long regarded as one of North Queensland’s finest emerging talents and on Saturday night Tom Duffy will have the opportunity to announce himself on the NRL stage. The Townsville-born 21-year-old has been named to make his first grade debut at halfback against Manly, becoming Cowboy No.320.
2. NEW FACES
Duffy won’t be the only new Cowboy on Saturday night, with John Bateman and Karl Lawton to make their club debuts. Bateman has been named in the second row, while Lawton will start from the interchange in his return to face his old club. Bateman and Lawton will become Cowboys No. 321 and 322 respectively.
3. NEW EDGES
The North Queensland backline will have a fresh look in 2025 with Braidon Burns to take over at right wing and Jaxon Purdue at left centre. Burns impressed after joining the Cowboys mid-season in 2024, scoring five tries in four games. A halfback as a junior, Purdue has found a home at centre for the Cowboys and is set to form a dangerous left edge combination with Tom Dearden and Murray Taulagi.
4. ROAD TRIP
The Cowboys and Sea Eagles have split the previous four meetings two apiece, although North Queensland have won the past two fixtures at Brookvale Oval. The Cowboys most recent appearance at Brookvale Oval was a gritty 19-8 win in Round 20 of the 2023 season behind tries to Reuben Cotter, Scott Drinkwater and Jeremiah Nanai.
