Matchday Details
Friday, July 25 – 6pm (AEST) – Queensland Country Bank Stadium
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Grant Atkins | Bunker: Kasey Badger
Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Braidon Burns 6. Thomas Duffy 7. Tom Dearden 8. Harrison Edwards 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Karl Lawton 15. Kaiden Lahrs 16. Kai O’Donnell 17. Coen Hess 18. Jaxson Paulo 19. Nicholas Lenaz 20. Temple Kalepo 21. Marly Bitungane 22. Dane Aukafolau
Dragons
1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Mathew Feagai 5. Corey Allan 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Hamish Stewart 17. Michael Molo 18. Nicholas Tsougranis 19. Ben Murdoch-Masila 20. Lachlan Ilias 21. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 22. Jacob Halangahu
Match Preview
Murray Taulagi will miss this clash after suffering a hamstring injury, with Braidon Burns shifting to the wing in his place. Jaxon Purdue has also been named to returned in the centres, with Tom Duffy recalled at five-eighth. Robert Derby has also been recalled on the other wing in place of Jaxson Paulo, who drops back to the reserves. John Bateman is back in the second row, with Harrison Edwards shifting to prop in place of the injured Thomas Mikaele.
For the Dragons, there is just one change with Sione Finau out injured. Corey Allan will move out to the wing, which sees Mathew Feagai return to first grade in the centres.
The chance of playing finals is fast slipping for both these teams, as the Dragons and Cowboys sit six and seven points outside the top eight respectively. The two sides come into this match in some poor form, with the Cowboys having won just one of their past seven games, while the Dragons have only been victorious in one of their past six.
It was another close defeat for the Dragons last week, as they went down by just two points to the Bulldogs thanks to a try in the dying minutes. For the Cowboys, defence remains the main issue after giving up 43 points in a loss to the Dolphins last week. They have now given up the most points in the competition, conceding 29.5 points per game.
Results favour the Cowboys in recent history, having won the past five games between the two sides. This weekend’s result will come down to the usual suspects for both sides, with Tom Dearden expected to step up after another change in the halves, while Clint Gutherson will have to lead from the front for the Dragons.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Cowboys by 6
See our full Round 21 Predictions (live Wednesday 12pm) here: 2025 NRL Tipping: Round 21 Writer Predictions
Have your say: Who wins? Drop your tip in the comments or vote in our poll.
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