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Cowboys v Sea Eagles: Origin stars return; Turbo gets green light

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All eyes will be on Tom Trbojevic in Townsville on Saturday night as Manly's main man returns from his latest injury setback and looks to spearhead a charge to the finals.

Trbojevic hasn't played since injuring his hamstring against the Dolphins in Round 10, with the Sea Eagles winning two and losing three in his absence.

The club has confirmed he will line up in the centres, a position he last played at NRL level back in 2016 when Brett Stewart was in his final season as Manly fullback.

The Sea Eagles sit just outside the eight on 19 points while the Cowboys jumped to seventh on the back Sunday's upset victory over the Panthers.

Despite playing without Origin reps Val Holmes, Jeremiah Nanai and Tom Dearden, and having Scott Drinkwater and Jaxon Purdue sin binned, the Cowboys dug deep to come up with one of their best wins of the season.

The Origin stars are set to return on Saturday.

Sportsbet Betting Preview - Cowboys v Sea Eagles

Team News

Cowboys: No late changes an hour from kick-off. On the back of a win over the premiers the Cowboys have their rested Origin reps Val Holmes, Murray Taulagi, Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai and Reece Robson all back on deck. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Sam McIntyre and Harrison Edwards all move to the bench alongside Griffin Neame. 

Sea Eagles: No late changes an hour from kick-off. Tom Trbojevic will line up at centre in his return from a hamstring injury with Tolu Koula at fullback and Reuben Garrick back from concussion in the other centre position. Origin reps Daly Cherry-Evans, Jake Trbojevic and Haumole Olakau'atu are all back on deck as is Josh Aloiai, who returns from suspension in the front row. Lehi Hopoate, Nathan Brown and Karl Lawton will come from the bench after starting in the win over the Dragons prior to the bye. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
    Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tolutau Koula
  • Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
  • Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine Holmes
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tom Trbojevic
  • Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Viliami Vailea
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
  • Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Tommy Talau
  • Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom Dearden
    Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
  • Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend
    Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly  Cherry-Evans

Forwards

  • Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Toafofoa Sipley
  • Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
    Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jake Simpkin
  • Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jason Taumalolo
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Josh Aloiai
  • 2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Heilum Luki
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
  • 2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
  • Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter
    Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange

  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Sam McIntyre
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Lehi Hopoate
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Harrison Edwards
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Karl Lawton
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Griffin Neame
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Nathan Brown

Reserves

  • Replacement for Cowboys is number 18 Jake Granville
    Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 18 Clayton Faulalo

Match Officials

  • Referee: Todd Smith
  • Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Cowboys have won only three of their past eight games at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
  • The Sea Eagles have not been defeated in Townsville since 2016.
  • Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt has scored five tries in his past five games.
  • Manly prop Josh Aloiai will play his 150th NRL game.
  • Cowboys hooker Reece Robson will become the first player to appear in 50 games at QCB Stadium.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services,  

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Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.