The North Queensland Cowboys face another tough challenge away from home as they tackle the Manly Sea Eagles at Central Coast Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:40pm AEST.
Coming off a 16-4 loss to the Tigers last week, North Queensland will need to produce something special tonight if they hope to upset Manly.
The Cowboys’ best chance of defeating the Sea Eagles will be to keep Manly from running away with the contest in the first half. The Sea Eagles have often played their best football in the first half of matches this season, while their second half performances have left much to be desired.
It was the same old story last week against Cronulla. Manly came bursting out of the blocks, racing to a 20-0 lead before significantly taking their foot of the pedal in the second half.
If the Cowboys can just stick with Manly during the opening 40 minutes, they will give themselves the best chance of causing a big upset.
The Cowboys certainly have what it takes to challenge Manly on paper, but they continue to underperform on the field.
After opening the scoring last week against the Tigers, the Cowboys defence yet again let them down as they succumbed to the Tigers by 12 points.
The Cowboys will have to show plenty of attitude and steel in defence if they are to keep Manly at bay. If the Sea Eagles are allowed to start quickly again, the scoreline could be anything.
North Queensland’s immediate concern will be to stop Brett Stewart from having a heavy influence on tonight’s contest. If Stewart is kept quiet, Manly’s attack will suffer.
At home, Manly appear too strong at the moment. The Cowboys can certainly push them, but remain too inconsistent to tip.
Manly by 12.
Muzz
Guest
They are this year. You can sit back, relax and no the refs have got it covered.
Planko
Guest
The refs were not the sole reason you lost the fact you only have one player is the reason
Planko
Guest
When you get screwed out of gf come back and have a go
Planko
Guest
You don't bet very much or often manly is rarely a good bet
Mac
Guest
Ohh i get it now Fil, your logic is that if in your view Manly get a couple of bad calls they are hard done by and "robbed" as you put it but when they benefit from dud calls such as last night it's still the oppositions fault and you use a completely unrelated opinion about the nature of the Cowboys defense and attack to back it up...Good stuff Fil...
Sleemo
Guest
Funny, the game just signed a billion-dollar deal and is as healthy as it's ever been...yet it's on the verge of disaster because of the refereeing...good one. People have been saying this stuff every year yet rugby league seems to go from strength to strength. Wonder why that is if the refereeing is so bad that it will kill the game???
The eye
Guest
He's got a good point there,turbo.That dogs/ rabbits game typified what it's become.It was frantically ruthless out there,the Dogs were absolutely legally ferocious in their hitting,yet Souths to their credit kept picking themselves up and asking for more..there was nothing left on the bench..this is what it is..
turbodewd
Guest
Stumpy, bit of a rubbish post you made mate. Please quote an example or type of example.
TheTruth
Guest
Like I stated earlier, don't support either team and had no vested interest in it(ie money/tipping). And it is certainly true if they kick the goals, it may not have mattered one way or the other. But the shepherd was an incredibly poor decision by the refs involved, no two ways around it. I get that we have swings and roundabouts in the game in regards to penalties etc but they should be getting the easy ones right. And I think this falls into that category.
Stumpy
Roar Rookie
Sadly Rugby League has become near farcical this year it's actually hard to watch or take seriously as a sport. Rule changes have and will continue to cause more injuries then they prevent, and will slowly but surely drive variations in body type out of the sport. It will become generic ugly and a poor reflection of it's former self, The sad state of the refereeing are the straws that will break the poor old girls back.
The eye
Guest
Yep.Gus summed it up pretty well..John Sutton being taken out of play in the early game was also a travesty of justice..just when you think it couldn't possibly get any worse..think beyond your team losing,it's about the game now ..how many more knuckle headed calls can it take ?
Sleemo
Guest
Well we had to cop it after the Grand Final last year, I have no doubt we can do it again. That's sport.
Sleemo
Guest
Yeah because Manly never lose because of tough calls against them, they only ever win because of it. Funny how whenever Manly wins a tight game with some controversial decisions going their way they're a pack of cheats grubs and liars, and they didn't deserve the win...yet whenever they lose a game with some controversial calls going against them it's "suck it up Manly fans, stop whingeing, you weren't dudded, the better team won, yeah yeah yeah..." Like I said below, swings and roundabouts. Take the good decisions with the bad. Nobody is out to get anybody. That is the nature of sport. Get over it.
Sleemo
Guest
Funny how the Cowboys lose by 5, yet they cost themselves 6 points by poor goalkicking... I'll let everybody work it out for themselves...
Sleemo
Guest
If the Cowboys get fed up with all their conspiracy theories they should pull out of the NRL and play in the Q Cup - they'll probs be guaranteed to win that one. If they learned how to kick goals they wouldn't have been in this position to begin with.
Sleemo
Guest
Don't worry Tom, apparently only Manly get the benefit of dodgy refereeing decisions and it's clear they are favoured to win by the NRL, the refs and the Easter Bunny himself...they never earn anything themselves...everything else is fair game. Swings and roundabouts people!
Fil
Guest
Ummmmmmmmmm......I think that whole argument was logical. There will be tough calls but I don't condone those mistakes which is why I think all coaches should be complaining each and every week. Refs are lazy and rely far too much on technology which they wouldn't have to do if they were up with the play. Unfortunately forward passes can't be adjudicated on upstairs which is why we have so many of them. You got one ref who fails to up with the attack and another that stands way behind the ruck. For the life of me I dont know what he is supposed to be looking out for. The fact is that there are going to be these stupid calls every week. We copped it against the Storm in the 2nd half. The good times rally against it and the fact is, yet again, the cowboys defence was not up to scratch. They rely on one player in attack and their big men failed to muscle up. I wouldn't feed james tamou, let alone give him a blues jumper
Muzz
Guest
You would be mad to bet against Manly at the moment,14 v 13 = easy money : ) Cheers to Manly Burp.
Mac
Guest
It's funny how you philosophize about there being "tough calls every week" because in your words it's "going to happen" and in the same breath declare that the you hope the cowboys complain and the refs get "pulled into line" because the "refs are terrible" Make your mind up Fil I give you 0 points for a "logical discussion"
Fiona
Guest
Someone's got bets down somewhere , 3 game this season , cheats somewhere