TK's Black Book - North Queensland Cowboys

TK's simple guide to the North Queensland Cowboys fantasy prospects for 2025.

Season ending injuries to Heilum Luki and Tom Chester have the Cowboys already behind the 8 ball to begin the season. The addition of Bateman will help to cover for Luki but in regards to a push towards the finals a lot will fall on the shoulders of Drinkwater, Dearden, Robson and Cotter. The top 17 is solid on paper but a lot of question marks in regards to squad depth. Finished the regular season in 5th spot before getting a spanking by the Sharkies and there is little to suggest they improve on that finish.

Prediction - Any where from 6 - 10

Cowboys 2025 Player Movements

2025 Gains

John Bateman (Wests Tigers, 2026), Karl Lawton (Manly Sea Eagles, 2026), Kai O'Donnell (Leigh Leopards, 2026), Jaxson Paulo (Manly Sea Eagles, 2026)

2025 Loses

Kyle Feldt (St Helens Saints), Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (The Dolphins), Jack Gosiewski (Brisbane Broncos), Valentine Holmes (St George Illawarra Dragons), D'Jazirhae Pua'Avase (Manly Sea Eagles), Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (retired), Chad Townsend (Sydney Roosters)

Team has been decimated for round 1 with Taumalolo, Luki and Chester on the sidelines. In the backs there is a wing spot up for grabs. Valemei would be fav but will be pressed by Paulo and Derby. The bench make up is likely to be the other point of discussion but the lack of depth now with these injuries is a major concern.

The Draw and Game Day Squad

Byes - round 7,12, 27

Game Day Squad allows a true focus on weekly match ups. I would be looking to load up on the likes of Drinkwater and Dearden in some home match ups against the weaker NRL teams.

NRL Fantasy perspective

Two byes in the opening 12 rounds makes Cowboys players less enticing. However, the team will play through nearly the entire origin period which is unusual only missing round 12. Players like Drinkwater and Bateman then heavily come into play.

Fantasy relevant players for round 1 - John Bateman, Jaxson Purdue, Tom Duffy

2025 NRL Fantasy Fortunes (slide across to view full notes)

Player	Price	NRL Fantasy Av	GameDay Squad Av	Notes
Reuben Cotter	$688K	50	48.4	Has a big role to start the year. Did fade with a 35 av in the final 5 games, fatigue from the season and rep footy setting in. Always a good option but probably limited upside to start the year plus the byes before he goes to Origin.
Scott Drinkwater	$654K	49	52.5	Momentum player, so not a great option for round 1. Would be in line with Clifford now down to replace Holmes as goal kicker which could add 6-8 points on the weekly. Consider but tough start to the year. Flat track bully
Reece Robson	$655K	49	45.8	Loves a post origin fade. After a solid opening to the season he didn't register a 50 score post round 15. Consider as your hooker however he will miss 2 games even before likely heading into Origin camp.
Braidon Burns	$500K	45.3	48.7	Back up player with plenty of fanstasy relevance. Issue is even if he was to jag a spot is at full value.
John Bateman	$595K	44.6	41.2	55.1 av on an edge in 2023. Will he fit in is the question? At his best he has heaps of upside. Big question though, be comfortable with the risk. BUY
Jeremiah Nanai	$581K	43.5	40.7	Coming off a disappointing season by his standards. Could have slight upside if he cleans up his defensive issues. Still not enough to convince for round 1
Tom Dearden	$580K	43.5	44.4	Be interesting to see how much more dominant he is as a playmaker with Townsend leaving. Still uncertainity over his halves partner also, so may be best to watch for the early rounds.
Helium Luki	N/A	40.8	40.8	ACL out for year
Jake Clifford	$525K	39.3	39.9	Favorite to replace Townsend but copped an injury that will rule him out from the start of the season. In his 6 starts only 1 score above 50. Avoid
Murray Taulagi	$501K	37.5	39.9	Limited upside. Avoid
Griffin Neame	$451K	33.8	32	37 average in 41 mins when starting in 8 games. Would need to see 50 mins to be an option (1 game for a 58 in 51 mins). Put on the watchlist
Zac Laybutt	$431K	32.3	35.3	Limited year due to injury. Has a decent try scoring rate (0.8) but would need to up some base stats to be relevant. Put on the watchlist
Jordan McLean	$430K	32.2	31.5	Fading vet with no relevance
Sam McIntyre	$416K	31.2	29.9	Benchy with no relevance
Karl Lawton	$400K	29.9	29.5	40 average when starting on an edge in 2024, depending on injuries could have relevance so monitor.
Jason Taumalolo	$392K	29.4	28.4	Continues to decline in the back end of his career. Made it easy for us to make a decision with him out for the first month of footy.
Semi Valemei	$374K	28	30.6	Well in the works to replace Feldt. Did have 40 average in 2023 so could be a sneaky purchase if he gets the start.
Tom Chester	N/A	27.8	29.2	ACL out for year
Harrison Edwards	$371K	27.8	26.2	Benchy with no relevance
Viliami Vailea	$363K	27.2	25.7	Likely to start. More NRL relevant then fantasy. Avoid
Thomas Mikaele	$336K	25.2	25	Benchy with no relevance despite his 1.11 PPM
Jaxson Paulo	$274K	20.5	19.7	Has never been relevant and never will be
Jamal Shibasaski	$250K	16	17.7	Second rower who will be more relevant in the year with Luki out. Q Cup had 18 games for a 35.1 fantasy average
Jaxon Purdue	$250K	13.9	14	Half back who played well out of position in the centres, wing and bench. Would be basement if he starts so buy if he does. 8 games in Q Cup with a 49.1 average with 6 tries and 4 try assists. Only issue is job security if they lose games.
Coen Hess	$475K	0	0	Missed the entire 2024 season with injury. Unlikely to be relevant, avoid.
Robert Derby	$250K	0	0	In the mix to replace Feldt. Injury plagued 2024, with only 8 Q cup games for a 36.8 av. Did score 7 tries and had 156 average run metres. Keep on the radar as a cashie
Thomas Duffy	$250K	0	0	Young half back with plenty of wraps on him. Had a decent Q Cup season with 22 games (5 tries, 98 goals, 33 TA) with an average of 48.7 points so keep on the radar. BUY if he starts but similar to Purdue ride the risk, i would only take 1 not both.
Kaiden Lahrs	$230K	0	0	Only 18 years old and son of Tom Leyroyd Lahrs. 7 Q Cup games for a 21 average. Unlikely to play NRL.
Kai O'Donnell	$250K	0	0	Returning from the Super League. Given the injuries he could be line for a starting role at some stage. Watchlist