Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 20 clash between The Dolphins and the North Queensland Cowboys.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
The Dolphins Vs North Queensland Cowboys
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Date: Thursday July 17, 7:50pm (AEST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Max Feagai 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jake Averillo 6. Sean O’Sullivan 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Aublix Tawha 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe 14. Harrison Graham 15. Ray Stone 16. Josh Kerr 17. Peter Hola 18. Tevita Naufahu 19. Kenny Bromwich 20. LJ Nonu 21. Trai Fuller 22. Ryan Jackson
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Jaxson Paulo 3. Braidon Burns 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jaxon Purdue 7. Tom Dearden 8. Thomas Mikaele 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. Reuben Cotter 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Harrison Edwards 14. Karl Lawton 15. Kaiden Lahrs 16. Kai O’Donnell 17. Coen Hess 18. Ryan Rivett 19. Robert Derby 20. Temple Kalepo 21. Marly Bitungane 22. Dane Aukafolau
Referee: Peter Gough
Bunker: Kasey Badger
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
A key all-Queensland clash opens up round 20 of the NRL as the Dolphins and Cowboys attempt to recover from losses last weekend and stay in touch with the top eight.
Both sides were gallant enough in losses last weekend, and both sides had opportunities to win, but ultimately start round 20 outside of the top eight. The Dolphins are ninth on 20 points and are only two points behind seventh placed Manly, so combined with their amazing +150 points difference, they could return to the top eight with a win over the Cowboys. Subsequently, a loss for North Queensland will see their finals chances almost disappear, as they enter this weekend five points behind the top eight, and their -144 points difference doesn’t help. It may also see their head coach Todd Payten disappear.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is the most noteworthy inclusion for the match, having sat out last weekend’s post-Origin loss to the Sharks, and he was a player the Dolphins could have done with as they were outmuscled, and looked a long way from the free-wheeling point-scoring machine of the majority of the last two months. Whether the Sharks have found a way to keep Isaiya Katoa quiet, or the missing Kodi Nikorima hurt more than one might expect, or the Sharks forwards simply overpowered their opposition, but the Dolphins halfback was quieter than usual. Sean O’Sullivan was solid enough as Nikorima’s replacement, but not great and he didn’t replace the running game of Nikorima. Jake Averillo returns to the wing this weekend with Tevita Naufahu dropped to the reserves after his debut.
The Hammer’s inclusion doesn’t halt the Dolphins’ terrible luck with injuries in their forward pack. Already down most of their frontline starting forwards, they lose Kulikefu Finefeuiaki with a broken thumb and Mark Nicholls due to concussion protocols. So Connelly Lemuelu has been promoted to the starting side with Harrison Graham and Peter Hola. It will be Hola’s first game for the Dolphins after moving from Canberra, playing one game in 2024. Although Kenny Bromwich has also been named in the reserves, so he is a chance of playing. He hasn’t played for the Dolphins since round 8.
North Queensland have their own forward omissions, with Jordan McLean out injured and John Bateman not yet ready to return, so Thomas Mikaele starts and Kaiden Lahrs moves to the bench. Jaxson Paulo replaces Robert Derby on the wing, and Jaxon Purdue is named at five eighth this week instead of being switched in late. An interesting stat for Purdue is that the Cowboys have won only one of seven games this season when he has started at five eighth. Not his fault of course, but an unfortunate stat nonetheless.
You don’t have to think too far back for the last meeting between these sides, as it was only just over a month ago in round 15. Maybe North Queensland fans are trying not to think about it, as the game saw the Dolphins at the top of their game with a thumping 58-4 win in Townsville. That night saw Jack Bostock score four tries, another player out for the season with injury since. It also saw the Dolphins looking like top eight certainties, if not dark horses for the premiership, but they have won only one of their games since.
It could be worse. North Queensland have won one of their last six games and have won twice in their last 10 games since winning in round 8. In fact, if you take the results from round 9 onwards, the Cowboys have the worst winning percentage of all teams – at 20%.
Despite these teams being 1,300km apart, the away side has won all five of the matches between these sides so far, so that’s one stat in the Cowboys’ favour, as is the Dolphins’ home form against fellow Queensland teams – W2 L5. Both teams have decent Thursday night stats, with the Dolphins’ W7 L2 overall on a Thursday, and have won their last four as the home side. North Queensland have won six of their last eight games on a Thursday and five of their last six away on a Thursday.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Dolphins by 24 points.
Check out our round 20 predictions here.
What’s your prediction? Drop it in the comments below.
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