2025 Witzer Pre-Season Challenge Round 3 Recap: Cowboys and Knights Secure Big Wins
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The 2025 Witzer Pre-Season Challenge has come to a close, with the North Queensland Cowboys and Newcastle Knights securing big wins in the final day of action. The Cowboys defeated the Melbourne Storm 36-24 at Casey Field, while the Knights downed the Sydney Roosters 48-10 at Industree Group Stadium on the NSW Central Coast. The wins marked the first victories of the pre-season for both the Cowboys and Knights, while the Storm and Roosters will begin their premiership campaigns without a win.
The Cowboys' win was highlighted by impressive performances from youngsters Tom Duffy and Jaxon Purdue, who did their best to convince coach Todd Payten that they are the right men for the halfback and centre roles. Melbourne fullback sensation Sua Fa'alogo failed to finish the match after suffering a hamstring strain, which will throw open the fullback position for Melbourne's Round 1 clash with the Eels. The injury to Fa'alogo was a significant blow to the Storm, and they will be hoping that he can recover in time for the start of the season. The Cowboys' attack was on fire, with tries from Scott Drinkwater, Jaxon Purdue, and Braidon Burns, among others.
In the other match, the Knights dominated from the opening exchanges after Roosters prop Spencer Leniu was sin-binned, and Trent Robinson's new look side were never in the contest. Newcastle led 36-4 at halftime and scored two tries in the second half before Roosters halfback Sandon Smith grabbed a consolation try with an intercept. Fletcher Sharpe all but secured the Newcastle No.6 jersey for the Round 1 clash with Wests Tigers after starring in Sunday's thumping of the Roosters. Sharpe, who scored nine tries in seven matches on the wing last season, claimed a double against the Roosters and had a hand in two others as he formed a lethal left side combination with Bradman Best. The Knights' defence was solid, and they will be looking to build on this performance in the upcoming season.
Other results from the final day of the 2025 Witzer Pre-Season Challenge included wins for the Broncos, Tigers, and Panthers. The Bulldogs' forward Josh Curran and Rabbitohs halfback Lewis Dodd face suspension, which would rule them out of their team's season opening matches. Titans veteran Kieran Foran will also be sidelined after suffering a biceps injury. The following are the match scores from the final day of the challenge:
- Storm v Cowboys: 24-36
- Roosters v Knights: 10-48
The 2025 Witzer Pre-Season Challenge has provided a thrilling conclusion to the pre-season, with several teams showing promising signs ahead of the upcoming season. The Cowboys and Knights will be looking to build on their wins, while the Storm and Roosters will be seeking to bounce back from their losses. The season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with several teams in contention for the title. Fans will be eagerly anticipating the start of the season, and the action is sure to be intense from the opening round.
cowboy storm pre witzer knight challenge rooster melbourne queensland newcastle
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