A battle of two teams desperate for a win will start off our Monday double-header as the New Zealand Warriors host the North Queensland Cowboys at 4.00pm AEDT.
The two squads are a combined 1-5, with the only win coming in the first round as the Cowboys overcame a Ben Barba-less Bulldogs side.
Since then they have turned in two insipid performances, losing to the Storm and then the Knights by 20-plus points in consecutive weeks.
Things could be worse for Neil Henry’s men though. They could be the Warriors, who sit dead last and have looked completely second best in all three of their losses so far.
This may be their best chance to get a win in the next few weeks, as they next host the high-flying Bunnies before a two-week road trip takes them to Melbourne and Canberra.
Last week’s performance was particularly dreadful, with a late Konrad Hurrell try sparing them the embarrassment of being shut out after the Sharks had raced to a 28-0 lead.
They are clearly missing the attacking spark of James Maloney, and the void left by the new Roosters’ pivot as not been filled by Thomas Leuluai, whose decade in the UK has clearly not made him any sharper since his first stint with the Warriors.
Can they turn it around against a ragged Cowboys outfit? We’ll see. Regardless, neither of these two sides has proved to have any sort of defensive capabilities and are conceding an average of 27 points a game.
So it should at least be interesting and high scoring, if not high quality.
Join us just before 4.00pm AEDT for all the team news and action.
Matt
Guest
Wouldn't be the first game they've played that was a scandal ;)
Damn Straight
Roar Rookie
The warriors didn't win that match...the cowboys threw it. Match fix anyone? Haha. :)
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
A superb second half from the formerly winless Warriors - and now they'll go into next week's home game against Souths full of confidence. The Cowboys were awful in the second half. Their ball control disappeared and the Warriors were able to get well on top as the game progressed. Particularly impressive was that the home side actually played the last ten or so minutes with 12 men as Ben Henry was concussed and they were out of subs. So now, the Cowboys are sitting equal last and must be wondering what on earth can keep going wrong. They had more than enough field possession to win today and just couldn't get it done. Alan is up next with the Eels/Roosters game, be sure to stick around!! And feel free to drop me a tweet @TheMattBungard - thanks for following along today.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
FULL TIME NZ WARRIORS 20 NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 18
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
They had numbers down the right, Morgan's pass was wayward and Tate couldn't pull it in!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
80th min, WAR 20-18 TATE DROPS IT!!!!!!! THAT SHOULD BE THAT!!!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
79th min THURSTON NAILS IT!!!! Just under two to go and the gap is back to two again!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Quick hands out the back and a diving put down from the former Broncos man. It's never easy, is it? Kick to come from the sideline!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
78th min WINTERSTEIN IS OVER!!! WE'RE GOING UPSTAIRS BUT THIS LOOKS A TRY IN THE CORNER!!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
78th min, WAR 20-12 The short kick-off is regained by the Cowboys!! They're ten out after two tackles!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
78th min JOHNSON PUTS IT THROUGH!!! EIGHT THE MARGIN!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Bill Tupou is forced to ground on a second effort by Brent Tate, it's a penalty and if Johnson kicks this, they can start celebrating!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
76th min, WAR 18-12 PENALTY to the Warriors!!! And this one is well inside kicking range!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
75th min, WAR 18-12 And Taumalolo puts it down!! Warriors have it 20m out!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
74th min, WAR 18-12 Winterstein claims that kick just ten out from his own line. Time running out for the men from Townsville..
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
73rd min, WAR 18-12 Thurston goes high, it's gone to ground and regained by North Queensland, but it's coming back for a knock on!! And again, the Cowboys would-be try scorer should be grateful as it was Michael Morgan who butchered the put down this time!
Matt
Guest
He's still down, big hit. Hopefully not a penalty - was a good solid hit, nothing wrong with it.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
73rd min, WAR 18-12 And Kevin Locke is down and out as he was rocked by Kane Linnett!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Agreed. Still found their treatment of Aaron Payne pretty shabby last year.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
72nd min, WAR 18-12 Johnson with a long field goal but it's charged down by Tamou!!! Six more!!! Warriors just 30m out!!