The NRL heads to Darwin on Saturday night as the Sydney Roosters host the North Queensland Cowboys in what should be an exciting contest. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm AEST.
Despite notching their second consecutive victory with a win against the Titans, Sydney can ill-afford a repeat of their error riddled performance against the Gold Coast last week.
The Roosters scrapped their way to a vital 18-12 victory against a Titans side languishing near the bottom of the NRL ladder.
Bar a good passage of play midway through the second half, the Roosters were ordinary in possession last week and will need to rectify their poor handling if they are to defeat the Cowboys.
North Queensland is coming off a heavy 42-18 defeat to the Melbourne Storm at home and will be gunning to get a win.
After a very impressive first half, the Cowboy could not sustain their high intensity against Melbourne for the eighty minutes and were punished accordingly. Melbourne were too good, as they have been against all comers, but if the Cowboys however can build on last week’s quality first half performance, then they could find themselves piling on the points against a suspect Roosters defence.
Prediction
Despite a poor second half against Melbourne, the Cowboys looked very solid during the opening forty minutes against the Storm as they went into the break trailing by just four points.
On the back of strong go forward, Cowboys trio Johnathon Thurston, Matthew Bowen and Aaron Payne tormented Melbourne’s defence.
In the opening stages of the first half last week, Bowen scored a try after grounding a terrific grubber from Payne.
Thurston meanwhile set-up two tries for Gavin Cooper and James Tamou respectively.
Although the Cowboys eventually succumbed to Melbourne’s sustained intensity, Bowen, Thurston and Payne all demonstrated that they are capable of tearing apart any defence if their forwards are able to dominate.
Thankfully for North Queensland, the Roosters pack is not known for grinding opposition into the ground, so the Cowboys will fancy their chances of dominating proceedings upfront.
The Roosters are also not as clinical as Melbourne, as evidenced by their error riddled victory over the Titans.
For Sydney to beat the Cowboys tonight, they have to remain patient in attack and not overplay their hand when in possession.
One of the reasons why Melbourne are so successful at the moment has a lot to do with their ability to maintain structure in attack.
If Roosters halves Mitchell Pearce and Braith Anasta can steady the ship whenever the Roosters get clumsy in attack, then they will cause the Cowboys defence problems.
Overall, this could very well end up being a high scoring contest. The Cowboys however look more capable of scoring the points necessary to keep a chaotic Roosters outfit at bay.
Cowboys by 8.
Alan
Roar Guru
Despite an encouraging start from the Roosters in the second half, the Cowboys have gone on with the job here to post a convincing 50-12 win against a hapless and disgraceful Roosters outfit. Thurston and Bowen were awesome tonight as they tore the Roosters defence to shreds everytime they touched possession. Overall, tonight's match was a training run for the Cowboys as the Roosters showed up with no attitude and belief in defence. The Roosters have produced two shocking performances thus far in season 2012 yet they still have a positive 4-3 win loss record. Its going to be a long fortnight for the Roosters though given that their next clash is against the Dragons on Anzac Day. The Roosters have a lot of soul searching to do here after a pathetic showing tonight. They owe their fans alot after tonight's effort. Thanks for joining us for this live blog and we look forward to your company next time on The Roar. FULLTIME: Roosters 12 Cowboys 50
Alan
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Roosters 12 Cowboys 50
Alan
Roar Guru
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL - Bowen converts and the Cowboys hit 50 in Darwin. Roosters 12 Cowboys 50
Alan
Roar Guru
TRY COWBOYS - Bowen scores for the Cowboys and Bowen will convert to see the Cowboys hit the half century here... Roosters 12 Cowboys 48
Alan
Roar Guru
VIDEO REFEREE - Bowen scores for the Cowboys here right on fulltime just moments after the Roosters make a break through Pearce, Cordner and Minichiello. Roosters lose possession and then Bowen races away to score. Checking for a knock on. Roosters 12 Cowboys 44
Alan
Roar Guru
77' - Thurston makes a break and kicks ahead but the kick goes dead in-goal. Roosters are out on their feet here but they get the 20 metre tap. The torture will be over soon. Roosters 12 Cowboys 44
Alan
Roar Guru
77' - Can the Cowboys reach 50 with three minutes remaining? They work it up to the halfway now as Sims makes a break... Roosters 12 Cowboys 44
Alan
Roar Guru
CONVERSION UNSUCCESSFUL - Thurston misses and it remains 44-12. After a bright start to the second half, the Roosters attitude and belief in defence has gone out the window yet again. Sims is on report for an earlier hit on Bosden. Thurston and Bowen have come to life tonight. Roosters 12 Cowboys 44
Alan
Roar Guru
TRY COWBOYS - Tamalalo scores his second try for the Cowboys after running onto a great Thurston pass... Roosters 12 Cowboys 44
Alan
Roar Guru
73' - Cordner loses possession now and the Roosters continue to struggle to hold the football. This has been a massive problem for the chooks over the past few years let alone tonight. Roosters 12 Cowboys 40
Alan
Roar Guru
72' - Tamou makes a break but loses possession shortly after and the Roosters go on the counter attack. Roosters 12 Cowboys 40
Alan
Roar Guru
71' - Friend with a pass that goes over the sideline. Friend still has a lot to learn what it means to play a solid pass out of dummy half. Cowboys to go on the attack yet again. They should hit 50 by fulltime. Roosters 12 Cowboys 40
Alan
Roar Guru
70' - Ten minutes to go here and the Cowboys will improve their points differential greatly. Thurston makes a break and finds Winterstein who drops the football with the line wide open... Roosters 12 Cowboys 40
Alan
Roar Guru
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL - Thurston converts and its 40-12 Cowboys. Roosters once again in a massive void here. They have had their chances to fight back but they have failed to take their opportunities. Roosters 12 Cowboys 40
Alan
Roar Guru
TRY COWBOYS - Thompson scores for the Cowboys after he regathers the football courtesy of a Roosters error. Cowboys once again piling on the points here after a brief Roosters onslaught. Roosters 12 Cowboys 38
Alan
Roar Guru
67' - Cowboys making easy yardage yet again up the middle as Thurston kicks deep and finds Minichiello. Roosters under pressure once again as the Cowboys begin to rediscover their mojo from the first half. Roosters 12 Cowboys 34
Alan
Roar Guru
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL - Thurston converts and its 34-12 to the Cowboys and they regain control of the contest after losing their way in the second half early on. Roosters 12 Cowboys 34
Alan
Roar Guru
TRY COWBOYS - Tamaulo scores for the Cowboys after a great inside pass from Bowen. Cowboys secure the competition points now after a brief Roosters comeback. Roosters 12 Cowboys 32
Alan
Roar Guru
62' - Pearce with a terrible kick and Bowen regathers the football and its a 20 metre tap for the Cowboys. What an anti-climax that was. Cowboys get the penalty and they are off the hook. Roosters 12 Cowboys 28
Alan
Roar Guru
NO TRY ROOSTERS - Friend doesn't score but the Roosters get the penalty and remain on the attack. They have to score here... Roosters 12 Cowboys 28