- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Can the North Queensland Cowboys win the 2014 premiership? Yes, they sure can.
The Cowboys showed last night, with workhorse prop Matt Scott and dynamic back rower Gavin Cooper back, that they can match the muscle of the NRL heavyweights. Just ask arguably the best pack in the comp, that of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Much has to be said of the Cowboys conditioning staff for getting these key forwards to produce such a performance after Scott has been sidelined for six weeks and Cooper over eight with serious injuries.
Throw in another bustling performance by both Sims brothers and a great metre-eating game by Jason Taumolo and the Cowboys have the strength and mobility to take on any pack.
Much can be said about the influence of the mercurial JT on any given Cowboys win, but without a pack going forward his influence is greatly diminished. Last night it took the Cowboys 30 minutes to get into the contest against the Titans, trailing 8-0.
In the next 20 minutes however the game was effectively over, with the Cowboys crossing three times. With a healthy for-and-against record, and three of their remaining five matches at home, the Cowboys can ensure themselves a top-eight finish.
They could even sneak into the top four.
The Cowboys were at odds of 17-1 some weeks ago when sitting in 13th on the ladder.
Incredibly, even after last nights 20-point win, the same bookie has them at 20-1.
If you look at the likely make up of the top eight, the men from North Queensland will have no problems accounting for premiership pretenders such as the Panthers, The Storm, the Broncos and the Bulldogs. Bulldogs supporters before you go crazy, just remember no matter how good your pack is, you’re never going to win a premiership with Hodkinson and Reynolds as your halves.
It’s whether the Cowboys can beat the likes of Souths, Manly and the Roosters that will determine the outcome of their season.
They have already given Souths a hiding once this year, can match the attacking flair of the Roosters and have the pack to steamroll Manly.
Could this just be the year of the Cowboys?
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.