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The Sydney Roosters have continued to warm up for the NRL finals by surviving a late scare from North Queensland to claim their fourth-straight win in the NRL.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Sydney Roosters 26
North Queensland Cowboys 20
The Sydney Roosters and North Queensland Cowboys may be on opposite ends of the ladder, but both are equally desperate for victory. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 7:35pm (AEST).
At the beginning of the year, many would have earmarked this clash as a potential grand final preview. Unfortunately for Paul Green’s men, they find themselves in a tense battle to avoid the wooden spoon.
The Roosters, however, are tracking along as expected, sitting in third position on the ladder and primed for September football.
After a slow start to 2018, the Bondi boys have found their feet, having won seven of their past eight matches. Their only loss during this period was to the first-placed Storm, by a single point.
Their 36-18 win over the Dragons last week was a clear statement that the Roosters are building nicely.
However, despite having the best defence in the competition, coach Trent Robinson would have been disappointed with the soft tries his side let in late against the Red V.
What may be a bigger problem is the absence of Luke Keary, who is out for a month with a leg injury. Ryan Matterson has been named in his place. Keary’s injury is somewhat offset by the return of Dylan Napa, who has been named on the bench.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys scored a rare win last week, when they downed the Knights 20-18 in Townsville.
The victory gives them a two-point buffer ahead of the last-placed Eels but another triumph this week would go a long way to guaranteeing Johnathan Thurston won’t retire holding the wooden spoon.
JT was back to his vintage best last week against Newcastle, managing a try, two try-assists and three line-break assists in an attacking clinic.
Prediction
The loss of Keary is a setback, but shouldn’t cause too much drama against the lowly Cowboys.
Roosters by 18.
Join The Roar for live scores and a live blog of the match, starting from 7:35pm (AEST).
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