Desperate for Manly to snap an ugly run of form, Anthony Seibold is keeping a watchful eye on North Queensland dynamo Jaxon Purdue as the Cowboys get set to unleash the red-hot teen in their halves for the first time.
Purdue has scored seven tries in nine games in the centres this season but coach Todd Payten has opted to drop Jake Clifford and get the 19-year-old closer to the ball at five-eighth.
The teenaged Purdue has never played an NRL game in the halves but his form has been so good to start 2025 that he is being talked of as a Queensland State of Origin bolter.
He will partner Tom Dearden in a spine that is expected to cause the Sea Eagles, who have won just one of their last five games, plenty of headaches.
North Queensland have been the most damaging team in the NRL over the last three weeks, scoring a tick over 35 points per match.
"I think their attack has been very good over the last little period there and I think they have got so many threats," Seibold said.
"Scott Drinkwater (at fullback), Tommy Dearden and I see Jaxon Purdue has moved to the halves.
"He looks like a fantastic runner of the footy and they've got Reece Robson who is obviously an Origin-quality hooker.
"They've got a real sort of threat in their spine and we're going to see plenty of good football from them there's no doubt about that."
Still without Josh Aloiai (shoulder), Toff Sipley (suspension) and due to be without Taniela Paseka for the rest of the season, Seibold has named the durable Ethan Bullemor to start at prop.
The Cowboys have blown rival packs away over recent weeks, losing just one of their past games.
"He's (Bullemor) had a really consistent season, and we're looking for reliability from our players," Seibold said.
"I thought he was really good against the Panthers (in a 26-12 win).
"He started against a really physical pack there and we know the Cowboys have got a physical pack.
"We wanted to give Bull the opportunity to get out there from the start, he's earned that through some good performances."
Meanwhile, North Queensland and Penrith have both been hit with $10,000 fines by the NRL following last weekend's 30-30 draw.
Both side's trainers were spotted spraying water on the match ball prior to restarts during last Saturday's match, in contravention of NRL rules.
Cowboys trainer Mitch Dunn and Panthers counterpart Shane Elford have been handed one-game suspensions.
