North Queensland Cowboys vs Manly Sea Eagles Prediction – Round 11 2025

The Sea Eagles are on a wretched run at the moment, dropping four of their last five games, to render their bright start to the season null and void.

The Cowboys on the opposite trajectory, after an awful start to 2025, they’ve only lost once in their last five, with their most recent outing an outrageous 30-30 draw against reigning premiers Penrith.

The good news for the Sea Eagles ahead of this one is their recent dominance in Townsville, which includes five straight wins.

These two teams also met back in round 1, with the Manly coming away 42-12 winners.

In terms of team news, the tourists have reshuffled their forwards with Jake Trbojevic back to lock, Jazz Tevaga to hooker, Ethan Bullemor to prop and Jake Simpkin to the bench.

There’s also been a reshuffle for the hosts in the backline, with Tom Dearden moving to halfback, Jaxon Purdue to five-eighth and Zac Laybutt coming into the starting centres after over a year on the sidelines. Jake Clifford is the man to make way.

Let’s take a look at the rest of lineups for this one as well as some betting tips for the H2H, first try scorer and over/under markets. This is our Cowboys vs Sea Eagles prediction.

 

Cowboys vs Sea Eagles Teams

 

North Queensland Cowboys Team List 

1. Scott Drinkwater

2. Robert Derby

3. Zac Laybutt

4. Viliami Vailea

5. Murray Taulagi

6. Jaxon Purdue

7. Tom Dearden

8. Jordan McLean

9. Reece Robson

10. Coen Hess

11. John Bateman

12. Jeremiah Nanai

13. Sam McIntyre

14. Harrison Edwards

15. Thomas Mikaele

16. Griffin Neame

17. Kai O’Donnell

 

Manly Sea Eagles Team List 

1. Tom Trbojevic

2. Jason Saab

3. Tolu Koula

4. Reuben Garrick

5. Lehi Hopoate

6. Luke Brooks

7. Daly Cherry-Evans

8. Ethan Bullemor

9. Jazz Tevaga

10. Siosiua Taukeiaho

11. Haumole Olakau’atu

12. Ben Trbojevic

13. Jake Trbojevic

14. Jake Simpkin 

15. Corey Waddell

16. Caleb Navale

17. Nathan Brown

Cowboys vs Sea Eagles Prediction and Betting Tips

 

Head-to-Head Prediction

It could be quite the comedown for the Cowboys this week, as they try and find their bearings after participating in the craziest match of the season over the weekend.

Two tries in the last nine minutes saw them take the visiting Panthers to golden point, with the scoreboard reading 30-30.

That’s how it would stay, with neither team able to find a winner, meaning the Cowboys’ epic comeback was good for just a single competition point.

Still, that’s one more point than Manly got, as the Sharks condemned them to their fourth loss in their last five.

Unfortunately for all the Sea Eagles fans out there, we’re tipping them to fall to five in their last six, after the Cowboys are finished with them.

Betting tip: North Queensland Cowboys.

 

First Try Scorer Prediction

With the announcement of the QLD State of Origin team imminent, Cowboys flyer Murray Taulagi will want to make sure he is part of Billy Slater's plans.

Look to him to put his name up in lights early against the Sea Eagles as he has scored a try in each of North Queensland's last six matches when they have started as a favourite.

Betting tip: Murray Taulagi.

 

Over/Under Prediction

We’re a little conflicted here. On one hand the form guide shows that each of Manly's last four matches have gone under the total match points line.

On the other, the Cowboys have been involved in some serious high scoring shootouts this season.

This makes this one of the harder markets to predict this week, but when in doubt we always like to listen to the form guide.

Betting tip: Under total match points.

Cowboys vs Sea Eagles Match Details

 

Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025.

Kick-off: 5:30pm AEST.

Location: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville.