Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 14 clash between the Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Melbourne Storm Vs North Queensland Cowboys
Venue: AAMI Park
Date: Friday June 6, 6:00pm (AEST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Grant Anderson 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Bronson Garlick 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 18. Ativalu Lisati 19. Sualauvi Faalogo 20. Alec MacDonald 21. Joe Chan 22. Kane Bradley
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Jaxon Purdue 7. Tom Dearden 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Sam McIntyre 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Kai O’Donnell 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 18. Jake Clifford 19. Karl Lawton 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Braidon Burns 22. Kaiden Lahrs
Referee: Grant Atkins
Bunker: Ashley Klein
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
It’s officially the middle of season 2025 and a crucial match in Melbourne on Friday evening sees the Storm and the Cowboys do battle in the race for the top 4.
Melbourne currently sits in fourth position on the ladder with 18 points, while North Queensland are sixth with 15 points. Both teams have already had two byes, so a win this week will set them up nicely with two State of Origin matches to come.
After being rested following the opening Origin match, Harry Grant and Xavier Coates return to the Storm line-up at hooker and wing respectively, with Bronson Garlick dropping back to the bench and Joe Chan and Sua Fa’alogo outside the 17. Trent Loiero has also been named at lock with Nelson Asofa-Solomona on the bench after they were switched late ahead of their victory against Gold Coast in round 13.
The Cowboys have an unchanged line-up to the one that defeated Wests Tigers last weekend with Murray Taulagi’s return from a calf injury pushed back from early estimates and the fledgling partnership between Jaxon Purdue and Tom Dearden remaining in the halves. Reece Robson has been named despite reports emerging on Tuesday that he may miss the game due to a hamstring injury. If he is a late withdrawal, Karl Lawton looks the man most likely to take his place.
It’s been a topsy-turvy couple of months for Melbourne, who have been on a win-loss sequence since round 6. If that trend continues, they are due for a loss this weekend, although the three losses in that run have all come away from AAMI Park. Last week’s win at Robina was their first outside Melbourne since beating Manly at 4 Pines Park in round 5 and their second away win for the season. They’ve won all five games they’ve played at AAMI Park this season, taking their streak at the venue to eight wins in a row. Their last loss there was against St George Illawarra in round 22 last season.
The Cowboys have had a similarly up-and-down season, however their four wins between rounds 4 and 7 were bookended by periods of three games without a victory (although they did secure a draw with Penrith amid the second run). They returned to winning form against the Tigers last weekend, but not without some nervous moments as they let a 32-6 lead slip into a 32-28 win.
Although the Storm have won 32 of the 45 all-time matches between the two teams, the Cowboys hold the ascendency in recent years with three consecutive wins, scoring 119 points to 56. The Storm haven’t beaten the Cowboys since 2021 however they haven’t played in Melbourne since 2019. The Storm have won six of the eight matches the two sides have played at AAMI Park, with the Cowboys last win at the venue coming in the 2015 preliminary final.
Form’s a funny thing in rugby league, but the Storm should be strong enough to win at home.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Storm by 8
Check out our round 14 predictions here.
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