FRIDAY, JUNE 6th, 2025
Storm v Cowboys
AAMI Park,Melbourne,6pm
A host of the Maroons’ finest square off in a mouth-watering clash at AAMI Park just two days before Billy Slater names his squad for Origin Two.
The fourth-placed Storm have Cameron Munster, Trent Loiero, Harry Grant and Xavier Coates in their corner while Todd Payten’s posse includes Jeremiah Nanai, Tom Dearden and Reuben Cotter as well as Blues rake Reece Robson.
This promises to be an enthralling showdown between two of the game’s most exhilarating attacking units, working their magic on the back of field position earned by the likes of Josh King and Stefano Utoikamanu for the home side and Jason Taumalolo and Jordan McLean for the visitors.
Maroons stars Xavier Coates and Harry Grant return after being rested in Round 13 and Trent Loiero will start after coming off the bench last week. Bronson Garlick goes to the bench after playing hooker last week and Sua Faalogo goes to the reserves. Joe Chan also makes way. Alec MacDonald is listed among the reserves as he closes in on a return from a quad injury.
Storm
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Grant Anderson 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney. 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu. 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero. 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Bronson Garlick 16. Tui Kamikamica. 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 18. Ativalu Lisati 19. Sualauvi Faalogo 20. Alec MacDonald. 21. Joe Chan 22. Kane Bradley
Out: Joe Chan (bench to reserve), Sualauvi Fa’alogo (wing to reserve)
In: Xavier Coates (wing), Harry Grant (hooker)
Changes: Bronson Garlick (hooker to bench), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (lock to bench), Trent Loiero (bench to lock)
Cowboys
The Cowboys climbed to sixth on the back of their heart-stopping win over Wests Tigers but they haven’t played away from home since Round 9 so the long journey to Melbourne and a hostile crowd provides a stern examanation of their credentials.
Coach Todd Payten has named the same 17 that got the money against Wests Tigers in a thriller in Round 13. Murray Taulagi (calf) and Jason Taumalolo (calf) remain sidelined.
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Viliami Vailea, 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Jaxon Purdue 7. Tom Dearden 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson, 10. Sam McIntyre 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter , 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Kai O’Donnell 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess , 18. Jake Clifford 19. Karl Lawton 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Braidon Burns 22. Kaiden Lahrs
Unchanged 17.
Referees, Grant Atkins, Touch Judges, Phil Henderson, Drew Oultram, Bunker, Ashley Klein.
The Storm have not defeated the Cowboys since 2021.
The Cowboys have scored 119 points in their last three games against the Storm.
The Storm have won their last eight games at AAMI Park.
Cowboys second-rower Jeremiah Nanai has scored four tries in three games against the Storm.
Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen has scored eight tries in five games at AAMI Park this season.
Prediction
The Storm had a tougher than expected run against the Titans last week in torrential rain, while the Cowboys survived a late scare from the Tigers. While the Storm are not the automatic pick they have been in recent years, it is still tough to tip against them at home, especially against the inconsistent Cowboys.
Dolphins v Dragons
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane,8pm.
Fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will have the chance to hit top gear for his club side before he goes back into Queensland camp and he’s eager to join the Maroons in winning form.
The Dolphins claimed a dominant 44-8 win over the Bulldogs before last week’s bye and they’re eager to hit the ground running on Friday night.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow returns at fullback after missing the win over the Bulldogs on Origin duty so Jake Averillo goes back to the centres and Max Feagai to the reserves. Star hooker Jeremy Marshall-King (leg) and lock Max Plath (foot) are listed among the reserves as they close in on injury returns.
Dolphins
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo . 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo . 9. Kurt Donoghoe 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Oryn Keeley . 13. Ray Stone 14. Harrison Graham 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Mark Nicholls . 17. Josh Kerr 18. Sean O’Sullivan 19. Aublix Tawha 20. Max Feagai. 21. Jeremy Marshall-King 22. Max Plath
Out: Max Feagai (centre to reserve)
In: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (fullback)
Changes: Jake Averillo (fullback to centre)
Dragons
The Dragons are out to keep the momentum rolling as they travel north to take on a well-rested Dolphins side.
St George Illawarra have won back-to-back games and they’re eyeing three-straight at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Young playmaker Lykhan King-Togia is set for a mouth-watering battle with Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa, with the duo two of the most promising players in the competition.
Luciano Leilua comes into the starting side with Jaydn Su’A sidelined by an ankle injury. Raymond Faitala-Mariner joins the bench. Blockbusting winger Christian Tuipulotu is good to go after his return from a hamstring injury was put on hold last week. Tyrell Sloan drops to the reserves.
Dragons, 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Nathan Lawson 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes, 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Jack de Belin , 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Toby Couchman , 13. Hamish Stewart 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 16. Blake Lawrie , 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 18. Emre Guler 19. Lachlan Ilias 20. Hame Sele, 21. Tyrell Sloan 22. Michael Molo
Out: Jaydn Su’A (second row), Tyrell Sloan (wing to reserve)
In: Christian Tuipulotu (wing), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (bench)
Changes: Blake Lawrie (front row to bench), Jack De Belin (bench to front row), Luciano Leilua (bench to second row)
Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth is on a six-game try scoring run.
The Dragons have won only two of their past 10 games at Suncorp Stadium.
Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako has landed 19 of his last 20 attempts at goal.
Dragons fullback Clint Gutherson has scored four tries in his last three games.
Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored four tries in two games against the Dragons.
Referees, Adam Gee, Touch Judges, Kasey Badger, Tyson Brough, Bunker, Chris Butler.
How can the NRL,USE THIS IDIOT BADGER to even hold a flag? She is hopeless. Ask the Titans.
The NRL has given Des Hasler a final warning for saying Badger got the decision , WRONG AGAIN, in last weeks game. On Monday the NRL admitted, again ,that she got it wrong by overturning the referee’s decision. TOO LATE MONDAY. The Titans lost by 6 points. What if Des gets the sack this year due to results ? Well I will say it. Get rid of her, she is an embarrassment to the game. Every game she is involved in, she makes a stuff up!!!!!
Prediction
The Dolphins enjoyed the bye last weekend after smashing the Bulldogs the week before. The Dragons put up a good performance to beat the struggling Knights. The Dolphins may have received the confidence boost they needed against the Bulldogs and could prove to be a difficult hurdle for the Dragons in Brisbane.
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