After a disappointing fall from grace in 2024 the Warriors have found their mojo again this season with halves Luke Metcalf and Chanel Harris-Tavita leading the way.
The classy playmakers have led their side to wins in five of their past six matches after a lacklustre first-up loss to the Raiders in Las Vegas and head to Magic Round full of confidence.
The Cowboys won't be lacking self-belief either after piling on seven tries in 33 minutes to blow the Titans off the park in the second half in Round 8.
The Cowboys own one of the great Magic Round moments with Murray Taulagi’s freakish pass for Scott Drinkwater to score against Wests Tigers in 2023 and a dose of that trickery could go a long way towards delivering a fifth win on the trot.
Match: Warriors v Cowboys
Round 9 -
home Team
Warriors
3rd Position
away Team
Cowboys
9th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Team News
Warriors: A late change an hour before kick-off with hooker Sam Healey called onto the interchange to make his NRL debut with Te Maire Martin sliding to 18th man. Ali Leiataua is out after picking up an ankle injury in Thursday’s field session. In his absence, Adam Pompey moves back into the centres with Edward Kosi being brought in on the left wing. As well as Leiataua, the other two players omitted from the extended squad at the 24-hour deadline were Tanah Boyd and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava.
Cowboys: The Cowboys are 1-17 with no late changes. Todd Payten goes with the same 17 that defeated the Titans last Saturday, with Harrison Edwards to wear jumper No.15 after he was a late promotion to the bench last weekend. Zac Laybutt is 18th man.
Match: Warriors v Cowboys
Round 9 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Cowboys
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Taine TuaupikiWinger for Cowboys is number 2 Robert Derby
-
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco BerryCentre for Cowboys is number 3 Jaxon Purdue
-
Centre for Warriors is number 5 Adam PompeyCentre for Cowboys is number 4 Viliami Vailea
-
Winger for Warriors is number 23 Edward KosiWinger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
-
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom Dearden
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke MetcalfHalfback for Cowboys is number 7 Jake Clifford
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 8 Marata NiukoreProp for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
-
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell BarnettProp for Cowboys is number 10 Jason Taumalolo
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 John Bateman
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Leka Halasima2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
-
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Jackson FordInterchange for Cowboys is number 14 Sam McIntyre
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric VaimaugaInterchange for Cowboys is number 15 Harrison Edwards
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Bunty AfoaInterchange for Cowboys is number 16 Griffin Neame
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Samuel HealeyInterchange for Cowboys is number 17 Coen Hess
Reserves
-
Replacement for Warriors is number 14 Te Maire MartinReplacement for Cowboys is number 18 Zac Laybutt
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Warriors have won four of their last five games against the Cowboys.
- Cowboys second-rower Jeremiah Nanai has scored seven tries in seven games at Suncorp Stadium.
- The Warriors have lost six of their past seven games at Suncorp Stadium.
- Cowboys centre Jaxson Purdue has scored six tries in his last six games.
- The Warriors can equal their best start to a season after eight games with a win.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the
