<p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The good news for the Sea Eagles ahead of this one is their recent dominance in Townsville, which includes five straight wins.</p> <p>These two teams also met back in round 1, with the Manly coming away 42-12 winners.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cowboys vs Sea Eagles Teams</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>North Queensland Cowboys Team List&nbsp;</h3> <p>1. Scott Drinkwater</p> <p>2. Robert Derby</p> <p>3. Zac Laybutt</p> <p>4. Viliami Vailea</p> <p>5. Murray Taulagi</p> <p>6. Jaxon Purdue</p> <p>7. Tom Dearden</p> <p>8. Jordan McLean</p> <p>9. Reece Robson</p> <p>10. Coen Hess</p> <p>11. John Bateman</p> <p>12. Jeremiah Nanai</p> <p>13. Sam McIntyre</p> <p>14. Harrison Edwards</p> <p>15. Thomas Mikaele</p> <p>16. Griffin Neame</p> <p>17. Kai O’Donnell</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Manly Sea Eagles Team List&nbsp;</h3> <p>1. Tom Trbojevic</p> <p>2. Jason Saab</p> <p>3. Tolu Koula</p> <p>4. Reuben Garrick</p> <p>5. Lehi Hopoate</p> <p>6. Luke Brooks</p> <p>7. Daly Cherry-Evans</p> <p>8. Ethan Bullemor</p> <p>9. Jazz Tevaga</p> <p>10. Siosiua Taukeiaho</p> <p>11. Haumole Olakau’atu</p> <p>12. Ben Trbojevic</p> <p>13. Jake Trbojevic</p> <p>14. Jake Simpkin&nbsp;</p> <p>15. Corey Waddell</p> <p>16. Caleb Navale</p> <p>17. Nathan Brown</p>

<h2>Cowboys vs Sea Eagles Prediction and Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Head-to-Head Prediction</h3> <p>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.</p> <p>Two tries in the last nine minutes saw them take the visiting Panthers to golden point, with the scoreboard reading 30-30.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Still, that’s one more point than Manly got, as the Sharks condemned them to their fourth loss in their last five.</p> <p>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.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> North Queensland Cowboys.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Try Scorer Prediction</h3> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Murray Taulagi.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Over/Under Prediction</h3> <p>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.</p> <p>On the other, the Cowboys have been involved in some serious high scoring shootouts this season.</p> <p>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.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Under total match points.</p>

<h2>Cowboys vs Sea Eagles Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date:</strong> Saturday, May 17, 2025.</p> <p><strong>Kick-off:</strong> 5:30pm AEST.</p> <p><strong>Location: </strong>Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville.&nbsp;</p>