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Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v North Queensland Cowboys Saturday 7:35pm at 4 Pines Park, Brookvale / Cammeraygal

A tale of two halfbacks

The Manly Sea Eagles will begin their 2025 campaign at home against the North Queensland Cowboys in a contest between two sides that bowed out in the second week of the finals last season.

Starting the new year in familiar surroundings after a trailblazing opening round performance in Las Vegas twelve months earlier, the Manly Sea Eagles will be aiming to continue a prosperous record over the Cowboys following five wins from their last seven meetings. 

Producing mixed trial form with a comprehensive victory over South Sydney (34-24) followed by a stunning loss to a reserve grade Penrith side (22-38), coach Anthony Seibold has named Jazz Tevaga and Siosiua Taukeiaho to make their club debuts; Tevaga and Jake Simpkin will share the duties at hooker with Lachlan Croker unavailable with a knee injury.

The Sea Eagles have struggled in opening round fixtures with seven wins from 21 matches since re-entering the premiership in 2003, however coach Seibold has defied the historical trend by beginning his two seasons at the club with Round 1 wins. 

Beginning their 30th year as a club with aspirations of replicating their premiership success of a decade ago, the North Queensland Cowboys will be aiming to open a new season with a win for the third year in a row.

Coming into the season proper off the back of a heavy defeat to the Dolphins (8-50) and an atoning victory against Melbourne (36-24), the Cowboys have enjoyed strong success on the northern beaches with seven wins from nine visits this century.

Winning 13 out of 28 opening round matches over the past three decades, coach Todd Payten will give club debuts to John Bateman and Karl Lawton, while Tom Duffy will become the first player to make his NRL debut at halfback in the opening round of a season for North Queensland.

Former Queensland representative Coen Hess will make his long-awaited return to the NRL off the bench after missing the entirety of last season with a torn ACL.

Saturday evening will be the second time the Sea Eagles and Cowboys have met in the opening round of a season; Des Hasler started his coaching career at Manly on a positive note, turning a 0-14 halftime deficit into a 24-20 victory, back in 2004.

Last meeting: Round 18 2024 - Cowboys 20 Sea Eagles 21

Who to watch: Entering his 15th season in first grade by taking on the mantle as the oldest current player in the league, Daly Cherry-Evans will be out to prove that age is but a number with a dominant opening round display. Coming off a strong personal 2024 which included eight tries, 17 try-assists and 21 forced drop-outs, the Manly captain has earned a reputation for stepping up in big moments with 28 field goals throughout his career. Making his 330th NRL appearance, drawing level with Parramatta legend Nathan Hindmarsh, the 36-year-old could join esteemed company as one of only five men to appear in 350 premiership games with an injury-free campaign.

In the past 15 years only two players have made their first grade debuts at halfback in the opening round of a season. On Saturday evening, North Queensland rookie Tom Duffy will follow in the footsteps of Daly Cherry-Evans and Adam Reynolds by becoming the third. Earning his maiden start in the top grade after guiding the Northern Pride to the minor premiership in the Queensland Cup last season, the 21-year-old playmaker impressed during the pre-season with a try-assist and a 75% conversion rate in the win over Melbourne. Coming into the NRL with a strong foundation as a Queensland Under 19s representative, Duffy will be determined to repay the faith shown by his coach and teammates with a strong showing.

Favourite: The Sea Eagles are expected achieve a feat not recorded by the club since the Super League War (1995-97) by claiming an opening round win in three successive seasons.

My tip: In a match that could be determined by the wisdom of experience or the enthusiasm of youth, the class of DCE should get the Sea Eagles off to a winning start at home. Sea Eagles by 12.

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

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

Referees: Peter Gough; Sideline Officials: Kasey Badger, Drew Oultram; Video Referees: Ashley Klein;