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2025 R18 Sat - North Qld 20-26 Melbourne @ QLD Country Bank

Round 18: North Qld v Melbourne

  • North Queensland Cowboys

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Melbourne Storm

    Votes: 10 100.0%
  • Draw after Golden Point

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    10
  • Poll closed .

League Unlimited News

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
9,537


NRL 2025 - Round 18
North Queensland Cowboys v Melbourne Storm
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba (TICKETS)

Saturday 5 July 2025
NRL kickoff 7:35pm
Live on Fox, Kayo

NORTHQLD2024.png


1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jake Clifford 7. Thomas Duffy 8. Jordan McLean 9. Harrison Edwards 10. Griffin Neame 11. John Bateman 12. Kai O'Donnell 13. Sam McIntyre 14. Temple Kalepo 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Kaiden Lahrs 17. Coen Hess 18. Braidon Burns 19. Marly Bitungane 20. Jamal Shibasaki 21. Jaxson Paulo 22. Mason Kira

Out: Tom Dearden (halfback), Reece Robson (hooker), Reuben Cotter (second row), Jeremiah Nanai (second row)
In: Thomas Duffy (halfback), Jordan McLean (front row), John Bateman (second row), Temple Kalepo (bench)
Changes: Sam McIntyre (front row to lock), Harrison Edwards (lock to hooker), Kai O'Donnell (bench to second row)

Melbourne Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Grant Anderson 3. Joe Chan 4. Nick Meaney 5. Kane Bradley 6. Tyran Wishart 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 14. Jonah Pezet 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Lazarus Vaalepu 17. Ativalu Lisati 18. Josiah Pahulu 19. Coby Williamson 20. Gabriel Satrick 21. Keagan Russell-Smith 22. Siulagi Pio

Out: Sualauvi Fa'alogo (wing), Xavier Coates (wing), Cameron Munster (five-eighth), Harry Grant (hooker), Trent Loiero (lock), Stefano Utoikamanu (bench)
In: Joe Chan (centre), Kane Bradley (wing), Bronson Garlick (hooker), Jonah Pezet (bench), Lazarus Vaalepu (bench), Ativalu Lisati (bench)
Changes: Grant Anderson (centre to wing), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (front row to lock), Tyran Wishart (bench to five-eighth), Tui Kamikamica (bench to front row)



Ref-Orange.png


Referee: Liam Kennedy
Sideline Officials: Belinda Sharpe, Jon Stone
Video Referee: Chris Butler

HEAD TO HEAD - 1998 - 2025​

TOTALNORTH QLDMELBOURNEDRAWN
ALL MATCHES4613330
QLD C. BANK4310

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEARROUNDRESULTVENUECROWD
2021Round 19MELBOURNE 20-16QLD C. Bank14924
2022Round 11NORTH QLD 36-6QLD C. Bank22728
2023Round 14NORTH QLD 45-20QLD C. Bank18867
2024Round 26NORTH QLD 38-30QLD C. Bank20787
2025Round 14MELBOURNE 38-14AAMI19096

BIGGEST WINS​

YEARROUNDRESULTVENUECROWD
2006Round 3NORTH QLD 40-8Dairy Farmers21346
2007Round 14MELBOURNE 58-12Dairy Farmers20023
2010Round 15MELBOURNE 58-12AAMI10661

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

Round 19Round 20Round 21Round 22
NORTH QLDCANTERBURY (H)DOLPHINS (A)ST GEO ILLA (H)CRONULLA (A)
MELBOURNENEWCASTLE (A)MANLY (H)SYDNEY (A)PARRAMATTA (A)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

Round 15Round 16Round 17
NORTH QLDDOLPHINSL 4-58SYDNEYL 8-42GOLD COASTW 30-24
MELBOURNE(BYE)SOUTH SYDNEYW 25-24CRONULLAW 30-6

STATE OF PLAY: 2025 SEASON​

POSITIONPLAYEDBYESW-L-DFORAGAINST
NORTH QLD12th1526-8-1316450
MELBOURNE3rd14310-4-0459263


LOWER GRADES
NORTH QUEENSLANDMELBOURNE
Hostplus Cup (Mackay) v Sunshine Coast (MEL), BB Print Stadium, Saturday, 4:00pm
Hostplus Cup (Northern Pride) BYE
U20 NRLQ Series v Dolphins, Kayo Stadium, Saturday, 2:00pm
Hostplus Cup (Sunshine Coast) v Mackay (NQL), BB Print Stadium, Saturday, 4:00pm
Hostplus Cup (Brisbane Tigers) v Souths Logan (BRI), Davies Park, Sunday, 2:00pm
NSW Cup (North Sydney) v Newtown (CRO), Henson Park, Saturday, 3:00pm
Jersey Flegg v Cronulla, Henson Park, Saturday, 12:50pm
 
Last edited:

borisdog

Juniors
Messages
192
The Cows have a pretty good record against the Storm mid-origin. In Townsville.

That won't matter on this occasion.

Storm by plenty.
 

Vic Mackey

Referee
Messages
26,318
Hughes and Papz should run riot, should being the operative word. Storm have been just doing enough this year. Cows season slipping away, they now have the 2nd worst F/A in the comp.

Melbourne by 14.
 

Warrimoo3

Juniors
Messages
1,303
Gus would be doing handstands that the Storm are clear favourites for the comp. Takes the pressure right off the Bulldogs. If racking up big scores against minnows in junk time is your criteria for a premiership then the Storm are your team.

They look more vulnerable this year than they have in previous years. It’s no surprise that they rushed Hughes back from a broken hand. He is way too important for to the Storm attack than he should be. Take away Hughes and you’re looking at a team that would scrape into the bottom 8 .

The Storm attacked in the Sharks’ red zone like a bunch of strangers which is a bit surprising considering it was round 17. They certainly don’t look as convincing in the arm wrestle as they have previously.

A player they have really missed for the last few years is Justin Olam. His kamikaze runs have been missed and they haven’t been able to replace him with a similar type player. Stefano has been OK but hasn’t really added to the authority of the pack.

The Cowboys’ attack has been OK but their defence abysmal. Clifford made a difference to the attack last week and had some important touches. Drinkwater got most of the plaudits but they wouldn’t have won without Clifford. He strikes me as a very good player with a relatively high ceiling who would thrive under a coach with the personal touch like Wayne.

Having said all that it’s the Storm by 16.
 

Apey

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
29,183
Gus would be doing handstands that the Storm are clear favourites for the comp. Takes the pressure right off the Bulldogs. If racking up big scores against minnows in junk time is your criteria for a premiership then the Storm are your team.

They look more vulnerable this year than they have in previous years. It’s no surprise that they rushed Hughes back from a broken hand. He is way too important for to the Storm attack than he should be. Take away Hughes and you’re looking at a team that would scrape into the bottom 8 .

The Storm attacked in the Sharks’ red zone like a bunch of strangers which is a bit surprising considering it was round 17. They certainly don’t look as convincing in the arm wrestle as they have previously.

A player they have really missed for the last few years is Justin Olam. His kamikaze runs have been missed and they haven’t been able to replace him with a similar type player. Stefano has been OK but hasn’t really added to the authority of the pack.

The Cowboys’ attack has been OK but their defence abysmal. Clifford made a difference to the attack last week and had some important touches. Drinkwater got most of the plaudits but they wouldn’t have won without Clifford. He strikes me as a very good player with a relatively high ceiling who would thrive under a coach with the personal touch like Wayne.

Having said all that it’s the Storm by 16.
Kinda game Storm might put a huge score on but then they'll look average against any other genuine competitors. They have a tough run home with Roosters x2, Broncos x2, Panthers & Dogs involved, should be a real good indication of if they're really the team to beat this year - I don't see it so far.
 

Saxon

Bench
Messages
3,534
Storm backline almost unrecognisable.
This will be a game for me sit back and enjoy watching the lesser lights run around; a win will just be a bonus this week
 

Bazal

Post Whore
Messages
106,516
Haha Anderson is getting the Eurotrip treatment. Same number as the fingers on your hand son
 

Bazal

Post Whore
Messages
106,516
Katoa is a f**king gun. So sad we never showed any interest when the Wahs let him walk
 

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