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Who gets the win in North Queensland?
Proszenko’s view: DCE and Turbo on show tonight
‘Souths suit a larrikin like myself’: Smith on club move
By Christian Nicolussi
Brandon Smith has only been at South Sydney a matter of days, but has already seen enough to declare: “This club definitely suits my personality more.”
Smith’s mid-season move from the Sydney Roosters to bitter rivals Souths was completed on Wednesday, with the premiership-winning hooker reporting for training at Heffron Park early on Thursday morning.
South Sydney recruit Brandon Smith already feels at home at Heffron Park.Credit: South Sydney Rabbitohs
Among his first impressions of the Rabbitohs set-up were how laid-back things were and the number of big characters, including coach Wayne Bennett, which reminded him of life at the Melbourne Storm.
“I can’t tell you if Wayne will get the best out of me, or if Souths can get the best out of me,” Smith said. “It’s about me getting the best out of myself. But based on my introduction to the club, Souths definitely suit my personality more.
“Souths suit a larrikin like myself. I can’t explain it. I’m a talkative bloke, I talk a lot on the field, but then you have a guy like Wayne wanting to pull me up for a chat. Wayne’s a very casual guy. There’s that kind of vibe.”
Read the full story here.
Cowboys team list: no changes to Payten’s men
Cowboys coach Todd Payten has stuck by the 1-17 he named on Tuesday. Here’s how they line up.
1. Scott Drinkwater, 2. Robert Derby. 3. Zac Laybutt, 4. Villiami Vailea, 5. Murray Taulagi, 6. Jaxon Purdue, 7. Tom Dearden (c), 8. Jordan McLean, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Coen Hess, 11. John Bateman, 12. Jeremiah Nanai, 13. Sam McIntyre
Interchange: 14. Harrison Edwards, 15. Thomas Mikaele, 16. Griffin Neame, 17. Kai O’Donnell
Tom Dearden is playing for an Origin spot.Credit: Getty Images
Sea Eagles team list: same 1-17 for Seibold
Coach Anthony Seibold hasn’t made any changes ahead of kick-off. Here’s what the team looks like today.
1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Jason Saab, 3. Tolutau Koula, 4. Reuben Garrick, 5. Lehi Hopoate, 6. Luke Brooks, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8. Ethan Bullemor, 9. Jazz Tevaga, 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11. Haumole Olakau’atu, 12. Ben Trbojevic, 13. Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 14. Jake Simpkin, 15. Corey Waddell, 16. Caleb Navale, 17. Nathan Brown
Daly Cherry-Evans is fighting to keep his Queensland No. 7 jumper.Credit: Getty Images
Who gets the win in North Queensland?
Welcome
Good evening readers, and welcome to our live coverage of round 11 of the 2025 NRL season.
There’s more than just a win on the line for many of the players in tonight’s matches, with Origin coaches Laurie Daley and Billy Slater finalising their squads for game one in Brisbane May 28.
First up we have the Cowboys hosting the Sea Eagles in North Queensland at 5:30pm, before the Sharks take on Melbourne in the Shire at 7:35pm.
Team lists to come, I’ll bring you NRL news from the week until then.
