NRL 2025 LIVE: Sydney Roosters v North Queensland Cowboys

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Who will win?

Wong off injured

Injury concerns for Siua Wong now, who is in a lot of discomfort after Karl Lawton goes in low for a legs tackle.

Wong is walking off the field which is a good sign, but he was showing signs of pain when the physios stretched out his leg. Perhaps a bit of strapping will do the trick.

Roosters 6, Cowboys 0 after 18 minutes

Cowboys errors gifts Roosters chance for points

We’re getting into the grind at Allianz after that early try for Lindsay Collins.

The Cowboys and Roosters were going set-for-set, but the Cowboys have just gifted the Tricolours some easy field position with a bad pass that goes tumbling across the tough line.

The Roosters start their set 25 metres out from their own line and now a set restart gives them another opportunity for points.

Roosters 6, Cowboys 0 after 16 minutes

Try: Cowboys cough up points too easily

A mistake in the play-the-ball by Murray Taulagi gives the Roosters a crack at the Cowboys line and Mark Nawaqanitawase gets a look at open pasture on the wing only to spill a pass at his ankles. A penalty for offside keeps the pressure on. And the Cowboys crack a minute later.

Lindsay Collins cruises through from short-range, Jordan McLean moved up out of sync and put his inside defender Griffin Neame under pressure. Bad defence. Salesi Foketi with the ball, Collins with four welcome points. Sandon Smith converts, 6-0 after six minutes.

Kick-off: We’re under way at Allianz

We’re under way at Allianz Stadium as the Roosters pay tribute to emergency service workers today, we’ve had a fitting standing applause before kick-off. Cowboys doing the honours. Safe but solid set to start the contest by the home side before a clearing kick by Hugo Savala.

Radley set for extended break after head knock

Victor Radley is set to take a month off from his latest head knock while Knights livewire Fletcher Sharpe has been hospitalised with a lacerated kidney suffered in Saturday’s last-gasp upset of the Dolphins.

Radley met with a concussion specialist on Friday after his fifth HIA of the season continued a worrying history of head knocks for the Roosters enforcer.

Victor Radley will miss a month of play for the Roosters.Credit: Getty Images

Radley came off following what appeared reasonably innocuous head contact while tackling Newcastle’s Fletcher Hunt in round 14, though actually passed his subsequent HIA.

Roosters medical staff made the call to rule Radley out of the Knights game in any case.

Radley has only failed one HIA this year – when he was knocked out against Brisbane in round one – but has had several concerning concussion incidents over the years, including a 2022 collision that left him convulsing on the turf against Melbourne.

Along with the Roosters round 16 clash against North Queensland and the subsequent bye, Radley is likely to be stood down on July 6 when the Roosters host Wests Tigers.

Read the full story here.

Mitchell and Johnston star in narrow loss for Rabbitohs

Perth Bears assistant to take over as head coach in 2029

By Christian Nicolussi

Newly appointed Perth Bears assistant coach Ben Gardiner will replace Mal Meninga in the top job at the NRL’s newest franchise from 2029.

Ben Gardiner will succeed Mal Meninga as Perth Bears in 2029.Credit: Ed Sykes/Getty Images

Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed Gardiner, who this week inked a five-year deal with the expansion club, will spend two seasons under head coach Meninga when the Bears enter the competition in 2027 before taking the reins himself.

The succession plan mirrors that at the game’s last new franchise, the Dolphins, who appointed Wayne Bennett as their inaugural head coach before handing the job over to Kristian Woolf.

Read the full story here.

NSW nearly lost Cleary and Moses to injury. Who are the halves next in line?

By Christian Nicolussi

NSW coaching staff planned to move Connor Watson into the halves for Origin II had Nathan Cleary broken down with a groin injury early in the game.

Cleary injured his adductor while practising goal-kicking at Tuesday’s captain’s run, and was only passed fit to start after the warm-up on Wednesday night.

Connor Watson would have moved into the halves for NSW.Credit: Sam Mooy

The Blues spent 24 hours privately agonising over whether to play it safe by scratching Cleary and bringing in 18th man Matt Burton.

If they had played Cleary and the gamble backfired, No.14 Watson would have moved to five-eighth and Jarome Luai gone to halfback.

Read the full analysis here.

Cowboys team list: No Robson or Cotter

The Cowboys on the other hand, they’re resting Reece Robson and Reuben Cotter with Karl Lawton (No.19) and Kai O’Donnell (No.20) coming into a reshuffled pack. Sam McIntyre starts at lock, while Braidon Burns comes in at centre for Viliami Vailea.

1. Scott Drinkwater, 2. Robert Derby, 3. Zac Laybutt, 22. Braidon Burns, 5. Murray Taulagi, 6. Jaxon Purdue, 7. Tom Dearden, 8. Jordan McLean, 19. Karl Lawton, 10. Coen Hess, 11. John Bateman, 12. Jeremiah Nanai, 15. Sam McIntyre

Interchange: 14. Harrison Edwards, 16. Griffin Neame, 17. Thomas Mikaele, 20. Kai O’Donnell

Cowboys skipper Tom Dearden will play after helping the Maroons to victory on Wednesday.Credit: Getty Images

Roosters team list: Origin stars to back up

The Roosters are 1-17 with their Origin stars Lindsay Collins, Rob Toia, Connor Watson, Angus Crichton and Spencer Leniu all backing up from Wednesday night.

1. James Tedesco, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Billy Smith, 4. Robert Toia, 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6. Sandon Smith, 7. Hugo Savala, 8. Lindsay Collins, 9. Connor Watson, 10. Naufahu Whyte, 11. Angus Crichton, 12. Siua Wong, 13. Salesi Foketi