The Cowboys have flexed their attacking muscles, piling on the points in a 36-24 win over the Melbourne Storm at Casey Fields.
To celebrate Fox League being the only place to watch all 4 games of Rugby League in Vegas live, Kayo Sports is giving away a trip of a lifetime to Sin City! Enter now at kayogreencard.com
It was the final match of the pre-season challenge, and it was a positive one for Todd Payten’s men who crossed first thanks to Scott Drinkwater.
He threw a huge dummy, which left Storm centre Jack Howarth searching for his man as the gun No.1 strolled over to score.
Next the Storm hit back with arguably the most impressive set piece of the evening, with Cameron Munster hitting Shawn Blore before he turned it back to Nick Meaney on the inside.
The Storm centre sliced straight through the Cowboys’ defence for Melbourne’s first four-pointer of the evening, but young gun Jaxon Purdue responded.
That was after Melbourne skipper Harry Grant was sent to the sin bin after several defensive penalties, with Purdue the beneficiary of a simple shift to the left.
John Bateman then sparked the next four-pointer, bouncing past defenders before the ball found Jeremiah Nanai in space.
The Queensland Origin representative then passed back inside to Drinkwater who bagged his second for the evening.
But on the stroke of halftime, the Storm got one back with a Grant kick bouncing off Drinkwater and into the path of Sua Fa’alogo who trotted over he line.
Unfortunately in the second half, Fa’alogo was forced to leave the field due to a hamstring injury, with Ryan Papenhuyzen also in doubt for Round 1 due to a knee blow.
Cowboys five-eighth Tom Dearden later delivered his trademark dummy, slicing through the Storm defence before Braidon Burns was the next to score.
To add to the pain, Viliami Vailea strolled over after a smart play from Dearden and Drinkwater, before Reuben Cotter made a statement run.
The Kangaroos representative charged through the Storm middle before the ball was flicked out to winger Jaxson Paulo for a four-pointer of his own.
In unfortunate scenes, 19-year-old Hugo Peel suffered a knock to the chin after colliding with teammate Grant Anderson, being taken from the field via a medicab.
After that, it was a seesawing affair and Storm rookie Keegan Russell-Smith got his name on the scoresheet, straightening off his right foot before burrowing over.
Recruit Stefano Utoikamanu and Shawn Blore also crossed in a late charge, but it wasn’t enough to reel back in the big Cowboys deficit.
WHAT WE LEARNED
COMBINATIONS
An injury to Jake Clifford has opened the door for Tom Duffy to start the year at halfback, and the youngster handled his audition against the minor premiers with some classy touches in the big road win.
Duffy threw the final pass for Scott Drinkwater’s first try of the afternoon while he also kicked really well which allowed halves partner Tom Dearden to do his thing.
Dearden sliced through for a second-half try while Duffy nailed three goals as Drinkwater stepped up again as the chief playmaker with plenty of slick passes to go with his first-half double.
RECRUIT WATCH
He never looked comfortable at the Tigers, but John Bateman is ready to make the most of a fresh start at the Cowboys where he looms as a key signing given they’ve lost Heilum Luki for the season, while Kulikefu Finefeuiaki is now at the Dolphins.
The veteran Englishman provides the energy and aggression they need on the right edge, with Jeremiah Nanai switching to the left where he threw the final pass for two first-half tries.
The only positive for the Storm was a late try to Stefano Utoikamanu who is primed to take his career to new heights.
ROOKIE WATCH
Valentine Holmes is a huge loss for the Cowboys, but they look to have found his replacement with Jaxon Purdue impressing at left centre with a try, three line-breaks and a couple of try assists.
Purdue played eight games last season wherever he was needed, but he has the chance to make this spot his own after a dominant display against the Storm.
FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION IN THE LIVE BLOG BELOW! CAN’T SEE IT? CLICK HERE!
PRE-MATCH WRAP
The 2025 Pre-Season Challenge concludes in the outer Melbourne suburb of Cranbourne when the Storm play the visiting North Queensland Cowboys.
MATCH CENTRE: Storm v Cowboys scores, stats, blog
The Cowboys have made a whopping 15 changes to the team that was thrashed by the Dolphins last week, while the Storm have made 12.
Todd Payten has named what many expect to be the Cowboys’ Round 1 team, with Tom Duffy now favourite to don the North Queensland No. 7 jersey when their season starts in two weeks time against Manly.
Duffy will start at halfback against the Storm, with Jake Clifford still not 100% fit after undergoing minor surgery to address a hernia.
To celebrate Fox League being the only place to watch all 4 games of Rugby League in Vegas live, Kayo Sports is giving away a trip of a lifetime to Sin City! Enter now at kayogreencard.com
A strong performance against the Storm should seal Duffy’s spot in the Round 1 side.
Melbourne meanwhile will give Cam Munster his first live hitout of 2025 with Ryan Papenhuyzen on an extended bench.
Halfback Jahrome Hughes will be put on ice until the Storm’s Round 1 clash against Parramatta.
Discussion about this post