Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 15 clash between the North Queensland Cowboys and The Dolphins.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
North Queensland Cowboys Vs The Dolphins
Venue: QLD Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Date: Saturday 14 June, 7:30pm (AEST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Braidon Burns 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jaxon Purdue 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Karl Lawton 10. Coen Hess 11. Sam McIntyre 12. Kai O’Donnell 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Griffin Neame 17. Kaiden Lahrs 18. Thomas Duffy 19. Semi Valemei 20. Jaxson Paulo 21. Marly Bitungane 22. Mason Kira
Dolphins: 1. Jake Averillo 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Max Feagai 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe 14. Ray Stone 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Josh Kerr 18. Sean O’Sullivan 19. Aublix Tawha 20. Harrison Graham 21. Tevita Naufahu 22. Junior Tupou
Referee: Todd Smith
Bunker: Chris Butler
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
An all-Queensland match up awaits on Saturday night, as the Sunshine State’s two top eight teams face each other to consolidate their place in the upper half of the ladder.
The Dolphins head into the game on the back of two impressive wins: a 44-8 win over the competition leaders Bulldogs in Origin mode, and last weekend’s 56-6 thrashing of the Dragons, who they leapfrogged into the top eight for seventh place. Not a bad place to be considering they lost their first four games of the season. The have an opportunity to leapfrog another team this weekend, as the Cowboys sit one place above them on the ladder. North Queensland’s recent form has been hit-and-miss: they haven’t had a consecutive result since round 8 and have one fewer win than the Dolphins courtesy of a draw and an extra bye.
Both teams are missing players, with North Queensland much more affected with Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai, and Reece Robson all out representing their state and John Bateman and Viliami Vailea suspended. They do get Murray Taulagi, Kai O’Donnell, and Jason Taumalolo back from injury in a boost for their depleted side. The perennially unlucky Jake Clifford returns to fill in for Dearden and Braidon Burns comes into the side at centre. Despite all the player movement, the Cowboys side is strong on paper.
The Dolphins also have players out, with just one Origin representative in Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who has been interestingly shifted to the wing in the Maroons team. He has been replaced at fullback by Jake Averillo shifting from the centres, which worked out well last time that happened vs the Bulldogs two games ago. Max Feagai comes into the side at centre. It’s a shame excitement machine Trai Fuller wasn’t quite ready to return to the NRL after returning to the Queensland Cup two weeks ago. Ray Stone returns from injury just in time to hurt opposition and to replace Max Plath, who appears to be out for an extended time, having only just returned from injury. He joins Daniel Saifiti, Tom Gilbert, and Tom Flegler as a very expensive casualty ward for the Dolphins.
With all the ins and outs, one advantage the Dolphins have is their halves pairing remains as is, with Isaiya Katoa continuing to grow his already pod of admirers throughout the game, and Kodi Nikorima continues to be the perfect experienced partner for Katoa. They set up two tries each last weekend, with Nikorima also setting up two line breaks and scoring a try. Jaxon Purdue and Jake Clifford are both very capable, but this will be their first match together in the halves since Purdue’s move into the halves cost Clifford his spot in the NRL. The Dolphins have their first choice hooker too in Jeremy Marshall-King.
Stats favour the Dolphins heading into this match, with the away team having won all four clashes between these sides. The Dolphins are also five wins from five games when playing the other Queensland teams (not the Broncos) away from home. North Queensland have also won only one of their last five vs Qld sides.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Dolphins by 8 points.
Check out our round 15 predictions here.
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