The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys host the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on Saturday evening.
1. CHANGE-UP
Todd Payten has made a change to his halves this weekend, with emerging star Jaxon Purdue moving from centre to five-eighth, with co-captain Tom Dearden shifting to halfback. It will be the first appearance in the halves for Purdue who has played almost exclusively centre in his 17-game NRL career. The 19-year-old was a standout schoolboy at halfback for St Patrick’s College Mackay.
2. WELCOME BACK
Purdue’s move creates an opportunity for Zac Laybutt, who has been named at centre to make his first NRL appearance in over a year. Laybutt had solidified a first grade spot in early 2024, before an ACL injury ended his season in Round 5.
3. SQUARING THE LEDGER
The Cowboys and Sea Eagles have had an interesting rivalry in recent times with the home team winning just two of the previous 10 meetings, both of which were the Sea Eagles in 2021 and 2025. North Queensland and Manly have already met once this season, with the Sea Eagles winning 42-12 at Brookvale Oval in Round 1.
4. STATS UPDATE
Jaxon Purdue and Murray Taulagi remain inside the NRL’s top 10 try scorers, sitting in a tie for sixth with seven apiece. Taulagi is also tied for third with 11 line-breaks. Scott Drinkwater ranks second for both try assists (11) and linebreak assists (11). Reece Robson has risen to second in the NRL with 413 tackles.
