4 Pines Park will play host to Saturday's Round 1 NRL game between Manly Sea Eagles and North Queensland Cowboys. The game kicks off at 7:35 pm with Manly Sea Eagles heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Manly Sea Eagles vs. North Queensland Cowboys game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Saturday March 8, 2025 at 7:35 pm
Where: 4 Pines Park
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Manly Sea Eagles vs North Queensland Cowboys Odds
Manly Sea Eagles vs North Queensland Cowboys Preview
The two beaten teams in the second week of the 2024 finals series, Manly Sea Eagles and North Queensland Cowboys are out to make an early statement that they are again among the NRL’s dark horses this season.
Anthony Seibold resurrected his coaching career by steering Manly to the playoffs last year, with Luke Brooks proving an excellent foil for Daly Cherry-Evans, a widely-doubted pack performing above expectations, and several backline tyros taking the competition by storm.
Jason Saab and Taniela Paseka have overcome injuries to be named for Round 1, while Warriors recruit Jazz Tevaga plugs the gap at hooker and Jake Simpkin comes off the bench with Lachlan Croker injured. Siosiua Taukeiaho is the other prop after trialling strongly.
Despite some baffling heavy home defeats to teams that ultimately missed the finals, the Cowboys cruised to a fifth-placed finish and held their own in a semi-final exit at the hands of Cronulla.
Tom Dearden, Scott Drinkwater, Jeremiah Nanai, Reuben Cotter and the Roosters-bound Reece Robson give Todd Payten’s line-up a solid core, but there’s some holes out wide and up front.
Tom Duffy has ousted Jake Clifford for the No.7 jersey, while Braidon Burns and Jaxon Purdue grab the three-quarter line spots vacated by Kyle Feldt and Valentine Holmes.
John Bateman comes straight into the second-row, fellow recruit Karl Lawton is on the bench and Jason Taumalolo is in the reserves as he battles a foot injury.
The teams have only met three times in the past three seasons. After the Cowboys’ back-to-back wins at Brookvale in 2022 and ’23, the Sea Eagles won a 21-20 golden point thriller on Daly Cherry-Evans’ boot in Townsville. Saab scored a hat-trick in that match.
Manly went 8-2 at 4 Pines Park in 2024, while North Queensland produced a solid 6-2 interstate record. Both teams won their Round 1 fixtures in 2023-24 – the Sea Eagles after losing their previous eight.
The market looks about right here with Manly – a definite top-four contender – as a $1.46 favourite, however. For North Queensland, too much rests on Drinkwater and Dearden to create scoring opportunities in a team that has been stripped of a fair bit of strike.
Content provided by Ladbrokes
Manly Sea Eagles vs North Queensland Cowboys Tip
We're tipping Manly Sea Eagles to win at $1.46 odds.
Manly Sea Eagles vs North Queensland Cowboys Teams
Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Dean Matterson 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 21. Jakob Arthur 22. Josh Aloiai
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Thomas Duffy 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Sam McIntyre 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Karl Lawton 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 18. Kai O’Donnell 19. Jake Clifford 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Jaxson Paulo 22. Jason Taumalolo