The North Queensland Cowboys are aiming to put their top eight spot beyond doubt, but standing in their way are the top of the table Melbourne Storm in what is sure to be match of the round. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEST).
The Cowboys’ season had appeared to go up in smoke with the season-ending shoulder injury to Johnathan Thurston, but they have continued fighting hard, winning matches and find themselves well in the top eight.
Sitting on 28 competition points with an expected qualification mark of 30, they can mathematically lock themselves into September with a win in this fixture. It currently leaves them in sixth position, but they can move back into the top four – at least temporarily – with a win here.
Pending on results for the Sea Eagles, Dragons and Panthers across the weekend though, a loss could leave them with just two points breathing space in the top eight.
Michael Morgan has been the key man standing up in the absence of Thurston, but a loss to the Roosters last week will have stung the club. Of course, he, youngster Te Maire Martin and Lachlan Coote forming the spine wouldn’t be able to play as well as they have without Jason Taumalolo leading through the middle.
He has been at his destructive best, leading the competition with 3488 metres and averaging almost 11 metres per run.
Up against a Storm pack who have defended fantastically all season though, it’s going to be a key battle to see if they are able to shut down his influence. They have conceded just 291 points for the entire season, which is the best record in the competition and regularly choke teams in their own half, winning the possession battle.
Nowhere was that more relevant than last week, when they ran up a stack of second half points to defeat the Manly Sea Eagles to the tune of 40 points to 6.
That match of course was Cameron Smith’s 350th. Melbourne have a way of getting up for milestone matches, and there were none bigger than that, so off a short turnaround, it’ll be interesting to see if they can do it again in the north Queensland heat.
One suspects they will. History says they will, and so does Craig Bellamy who has found ways to do it before. Cameron Munster being out with injury is a big blow though, and it’ll be down to the trio of Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater to lead from the front.
Ryley Jacks has displayed good form this year though, and he needs to play the Munster role if they are to get over the top of the dangerous Cowboys outfit, who always seem to lift at home.
The Storm have an incredibly good record against the Cowboys, winning 24 of 34 in total and 12 of 18 in Townsville.
Prediction
The Storm are favourites and rightfully so. Even with Munster out, they have too much class and should continue their winning ways in Townsville.
Storm by 6.
Join The Roar for live coverage of what looks sure to be match of the round from 7:50pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Bill larkin
Guest
Interesting. Did you see my earlier post which pointed out that the Cows won the penalty count? Pretty crafty conspirators, these refs.
steveng
Roar Rookie
'Flat White' and why do you think that 'the biggest issue by a long way is how poorly the game is being attended in Sydney'??? Its because of the officiating of the game(s) of RL. The NRL's losing its attraction as a competitive game when you watch a game like tonight's. 3-4 repetitive sets given to the Storm and the refs continual awarding of penalties, that gives an advantage to one team to win the game. Its that obvious that people are getting 'sick and tired' of watching the NRL, especially in Sydney!!!
R N
Roar Rookie
Barring injuries, it's theirs to lose. Next week against the Roosters will be interesting but I cant really see anyone beating them! As I said, I fully expect to be yelling at the screen on grand final day - " Come on man get off him already" "That was a leg pull" "That's late below the hips" "That's flat" "Another 50/50!" I fully realise that every team in the comp does these things and calls can be interpreted to suit your agenda but for whatever reason it bugs me more when it's Melbourne! Maybe it's just plain old jealously... there is no real rational reason for my dislike of them!
R N
Roar Rookie
Bill larkin
Guest
I was responding to Todd who was talking about "managed outcomes". I was asking him who was doing the managing.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Titans undies...
Long Black
Roar Rookie
You've lost your marbles son. The refereeing may be a blight on the game (though last night's game was very well officiated, even as a Cowboys fan) but the biggest issue by a long way is how poorly the game is being attended in Sydney. The Storm are winning because they are the best team. They get great home support (and did through the season they played for no points) and have a great club culture. The most unwatchable aspect of the NRL are seeing tens of thousands of empty seats at games held at ANZ and Allianz. Not an issue in the other League playing states.
Bill larkin
Guest
So how is this conspiracy played out? Who is in on it? Fair dinkum, why is it so had to concede that he Storm is he dominant team through playing personnel, tactics, coaching and training (the fitness level of Storm players is underrated)?
RV
Guest
Whilst they are a brilliant team the inescapable fact is that they are riding off the back of the system they built whilst in breach of the cap for years. No other team was able to fly outside the rules for as long, for five years and with as much benefit. During that period they were able to establish an amazing nucleus of four players who thrived off each other and became better players as a result (losing only one of them after the cap scandal, with the others long settled in Melbourne by the time the issue broke), create a winning culture, dominant playing style, finals experience through four GF in a row, all of which form the foundations of the continued success they still enjoy. I guess the only thing is that unlike other clubs who have breached the cap since, they were far more professionally run off and on the field and therefore reaped longer term benefits! Still, you can’t argue that they are well coached, talented and will be very hard to beat.
Todd Shand
Guest
The two blights on the game are the referees and the way the Storm play. The game has managed outcomes and we all think it is above board. Simple the NRL want the Storm to keep winning so the NRL has a strong foot hold in AFL mad VIC. The NRL is almost at the stage of not being watchable.
RV
Guest
They are a brilliant side. I still feel though that they are riding off the back of the system they built whilst in breach of the cap for years. No other team was able to fly outside the rules for as long, for five years and with as much benefit. During that period they were able to establish an amazing nucleus of four players who thrived off each other and became better players as a result (losing only one of them after the cap scandal), create a winning culture, dominant playing style, finals experience through four GF in a row, all of which form the foundations of the continued success they still enjoy. I guess the only thing is that unlike other clubs who have breached the cap since, they were far more professionally run off and on the field and therefore reaped longer term benefits! Still, you can't argue that they are well coached, talented and will be very hard to beat.
Albo
Guest
I'm not a Storm supporter , but I have no issue with the way they play the game. Their objective is to win matches which they do better than all other teams to date. If they are doing something wrong that you don't like, then blame the officials for allowing it, not the team. They have a great team , great on field leaders , a great coach and they provide plenty of entertainment for fans. What's not to like about that ? I wish my team had a few of these guys over the past decade. But they were very clunky and flat last night otherwise the score could have been doubled with the Cowboys battling injuries again. Slater was rocks and diamonds overplaying his hand all night. Smith still doesn't look 100% right to me and he left the field early. They are playing consistently well but can still be beaten by a smart disciplined team on any given day.
Long Black
Roar Rookie
When you watch a game like last night, and most games they've played this season, I find it hard to understand how people complain about their "boring style of football". They are surely one of the more creative teams to watch and I can't think of many teams who you could consider to be more exciting to watch. The way Smith, Cronk and Slater combine around the ruck, regardless of where they are on the field, shows they are willing to back themselves and attempt to post points from anywhere. Couple that with the two more destructive wingers in the game, the best centre in the game, Kaufusi hitting the edges and their big guys up the middle and they're anything but boring and predictable. Hard to watch the Cowboys try so hard and come up well short, but that Storm team are firing on all cylinders. I think a full strength Cowboys team against Storm in the GF would've been the ideal end of year finale.
Fish
Guest
You can't play any team let alone the benchmark team with no subs. The last twenty was always going to hurt the Cowboys. They should be proud of there effort. The Storm made a few errors and it wasn't because they were flat. The Cowboys played a fast up and in defensive line, much like the Sharks play, instead of there usual hold and slide style. This took Melbourne by surprise a little, but with Winterstiens injury and the experience of Melbourne, that was always going to come unstuck. Melbourne have three ingredients to their game that other teams lack on a consistent basis: 1. They do the little things right. 2. They play the percentages. 3. They are patient. It is hard to see a team that can improve enough this far out from finals to beat them, however, the grand final is one game on one day, even if they make it, doesn't gaurantee they will win it. Last year proved that. A great season will get you to the finals, but a great season alone will not win you a premiership.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It's interesting RN...a lot of people say they can't stand watching Melbourne but I enjoy it. I'm not a Storm supporter. The way they laid on tries for Chambers and Vunivalu towards the end of the first half was great footy, perfectly executed. They've got a great blend of powerful forwards, skilful creators and attacking outside backs. I think they're the best team in the comp to watch. Plenty of effort from the Cows. They ran out of gas a bit. But the Melbourne goal line defence was brutal. The Cows were one pass away from a try about four or five times but the Storm kept scrambling to get there. It's hard to see anyone stopping them. They're playing great footy but hungry after last year too.
R N
Roar Rookie
Would totally agree with you if I supported them! They are dominant, they are a great team and they have some legends of the game that I quite like and are happy to support when they play for QLD. However, whenever I I watch them play (no matter who they are playing) I find myself yelling at the screen in frustration. Rightly or wrongly they are the team I identify with all the things that annoy me about the game over the last few years. To compartmentalize this frustration and to continue to enjoy the game I take all my frustration out on one team... Melbourne! I know that this is my problem... and to be honest, if you're a Melbourne supporter, I think you're going to be pretty happy at the end of the season and I am going to yelling at the screen!
Duncan Smith
Guest
I find it easy to watch Melbourne. I love watching a team so brilliant and so dominant. One of the greatest club sides to have ever played the game. I hope they win the comp this year. Fitting tribute to their quality as a great rugby league team of champions.
R N
Roar Rookie
Well the effort was there! The cows attack could improve but they did create some opportunities ! I find it hard to watch games involving melebourne... I hope any other team wins the comp this year! On another note, is there a way to get Wally and Lockyer off the commentary team for now and evermore! Wally said proberly three times in one sentence tonight..! He is far KING hopeless...
R N
Roar Rookie
Well the effort was there! The cows attack could improve but they did create some opportunities ! I find it hard to watch games involving melebourne... I hope any other team wins the comp this year! On another note, is there a way to get Wally and Lockyer off the commentary team for now and evermore! Wally said proberly three times in one sentence tonight..! He is far KING hopeless...
Todd Shand
Guest
God bless the Storm.