NRL Match Preview: Round 21 v Cowboys

Author: St George Illawarra Dragons
Timestamp: Thu 24 Jul 2025, 08:57 AM

Shane Flanagan's Dragons make the trip north this week for a Friday evening showdown against the Cowboys in Townsville.

Round 21 - Round 21 - Friday 25 Jul

Full Time

Cowboys

Dragons

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

Highlights Latest

KEY INFO

Buy Tickets
Date Friday, July 25th
Venue Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Watch Kayo & Foxtel
4:00PM Box Office Opens
4:15PM Gates Open
4:30PM Curtain Raiser
6:00PM NRL | Dragons v Cowboys

BACK TO TOWNSVILLE

The Dragons make the trip to Queensland Country Bank Stadium for the first time since Round 11, 2023.

The Dragons will be desperate to get back in winning form against a Cowboys unit which has lost four of their past five games in Townsville.

Suli: “We’re not far off”

A TIGHT RACE

Both sides will be in desperate need of a win with the season approaching its pointy end.

The Dragons are currently 11th on the ladder with 18 competition points and a -58 for-and-against whilst the Cowboys find themselves two spots lower on 17 competition points with a -163 points differential.

Everything will be on the line when the sides face each other on Friday with a win providing a much-needed boost.

Klemmer: 'A big back end of the season'

TEAM NEWS

DRAGONS

Sione Finau (shoulder) is unavailable for the Red V with Corey Allan shifting out to the wing to accommodate his absence and Mathew Feagai coming into the centres for his first top grade appearance since Round 7.
Emre Guler has been named in the run-on side with Michael Molo on the interchange after the pair were involved in late switch on Saturday evening.

COWBOYS

Tom Duffy (quad) has been named at five-eighth for the Cowboys pushing Jaxon Purdue into the centres and Braidon Burns out to the wing.
John Bateman (groin) is also back in the second row seeing Reuben Cotter shift back to lock.

Round 21 - Round 21 - Friday 25 Jul

Full Time

Cowboys

Dragons

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Robert Derby

Winger for Dragons is number 2 Tyrell Sloan
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Jaxon Purdue

Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Zac Laybutt

Centre for Dragons is number 4 Mathew Feagai
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Braidon Burns

Winger for Dragons is number 5 Corey Allan
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Thomas Duffy

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Lyhkan King-Togia
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Tom Dearden

Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle Flanagan

Forwards

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Harrison Edwards

Prop for Dragons is number 10 David Klemmer
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson

Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Griffin Neame

Prop for Dragons is number 15 Blake Lawrie
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 John Bateman

2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Luciano Leilua
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai

2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter

Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin

Interchange

Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Karl Lawton

Interchange for Dragons is number 8 Emre Guler
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Kaiden Lahrs

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Kai O'Donnell

Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Hamish Stewart
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Coen Hess

Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Michael Molo