Gold Coast Titans vs North Queensland Cowboys Prediction – Round 17 2025

From the ridiculous, to the sublime, back to the ridiculous, 2025 has been a wild and ultimately disappointing ride for the North Queensland Cowboys thus far.

Now with their season on the brink, they simply must find a way to win when they visit the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on Sunday.

They certainly have the players to turn things around but it’s a considerable mountain to climb after being outscored 138-26 over their past three outings.

Things are even bleaker in the state’s south, with the Titans rooted to the bottom of the ladder after last week saw them unable to defeat a Parramatta side featuring fewer than 80 combined games of NRL experience through their spine.

Origin stars Reece Robson and Reuben Cotter return for the Cowboys after being rested. Jake Clifford comes into the halves, forcing Jaxon Purdue back to the centres and Braidon Burns out of the side.

For the Titans, Jayden Campbell is replaced by Tom Weaver in the halves after suffering a concussion.

Welcome everyone to the desperation derby, here’s how both sides will line up as well as betting tips for the H2H, first try scorer, and over/under markets. This is our Titans vs Cowboys prediction.

 

Titans vs Cowboys Teams

 

Gold Coast Titans Team List

1. AJ Brimson

2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira

3. Jojo Fifita

4. Phillip Sami

5. Allan Fitzgibbon

6. Kieran Foran

7. Tom Weaver

8. Jaimin Jolliffe

9. Sam Verrills

10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard

11. Chris Randall

12. Beau Fermor

13. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

14. Jacob Alick-Wiencke

15. Moeaki Fotuaika

16. Klese Haas

17. Iszac Fa'asumaleaui

 

North Queensland Cowboys Team List

1. Scott Drinkwater

2. Robert Derby

3. Jaxon Purdue

4. Zac Laybutt

5. Murray Taulagi

6. Jake Clifford

7. Tom Dearden

8. Jordan McLean

9. Reece Robson

10. Sam McIntyre

11. John Bateman

12. Jeremiah Nanai

13. Reuben Cotter

14. Harrison Edwards

15. Thomas Mikaele

16. Griffin Neame

17. Coen Hess

Titans vs Cowboys Prediction and Betting Tips

 

Head-to-Head Prediction

Not the way anyone wants to end NRL round 17. What is usually known as a Queensland Derby, will instead resemble more of a desperation derby instead.

Both the Titans and Cowboys’ respective gooses appear cooked in 2025, with the North Queenslander’s recent form particularly concerning.

Not only have they lost their last three in a row, but the scorecards have read: 38-14, 58-4 and 42-8. Yikes.

The Titans aren’t much better, but home ground advantage has to count for something right?

Betting tip: Gold Coast Titans.

 

First Try Scorer Prediction

There’s one player in particular who seems to frequently fancy this fixture. That player is Titan’s fullback AJ Brimson.

Brimson has scored at least one try in four of Gold Coast's last five home matches against North Queensland and as a result we’re backing him to be the first across the tryline in this one.

Betting tip: AJ Brimson.

 

Over/Under Prediction

When the Cows hit the Glitter Strip, they tend to leave the points back at home. Each of North Queensland's last seven matches at Cbus Super Stadium have gone under the total match points line.

Seven games straight is a stat that is too hard for us to ignore, so we’re taking the under in this one.

Betting tip: Under total match points.

Titans vs Cowboys Match Details

 

Date: Sunday, June 29, 2025.

Kick-off: 4:05pm AEST.

Location: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast.