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The New Zealand Warriors will have to turn around a horrendous record in Townsville, but still go into their Round 15 clash with the struggling North Queensland Cowboys as slight favourites. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 6pm (AEST).
The Auckland-based club have been one of the genuine surprise packets this year, spending most of it in the top four. They were widely tipped for the wooden spoon this year, but their energy and tenacity on defence has led a revival for the club.
While the wheels have at various times looked like they were going to fall off for a club you can never be quite sure what to expect from, they have recovered well each time and continue to win, even if inconsistently now.
Their forwards have been the most important asset to the club. When they perform and muscle up in defence, few teams have been able to put points on them, and with attacking weapons like Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Shaun Johnson, as well as Issac Luke in career-best form, it’s little wonder the Warriors have had such a strong start to the season.
They beat the Sea Eagles comfortably in Christchurch last week, but three heavy losses to the Roosters, Rabbitohs and Storm in the last six weeks shows they are not far ahead of the chasing pack.
The only other factor going against the Warriors ahead of this clash is their terrible record in Townsville. They have won just five of 18 matches in Northern Queensland, with four of those being before 2002.
North Queensland have had the season from hell. With returning stars, they were tipped to beat the top this season, but how quickly the mighty have fallen.
Their shambolic loss to the Parramatta Eels in Darwin last week was about as bad as it gets. In conditions which should have suited them, they put on a boring and predictable display in attack – something not exactly associated with Johnathan Thurston previously – as they stumbled from error to bombed opportunity to poor defensive read.
It would almost be fair to say the loss, with their season virtually on the line, was one of the worst in the club’s history.
While the season and chance of making the top eight is all but gone for the Cowboys, they need to start restoring some pride in the jersey. On top of that, some of these players will be playing for contracts and spots in coming years.
They have swung some changes this week, with Paul Green desperate to try and have a good second half of the season. Kane Linnett, Javid Bowen and Ben Hampton will all get a run, but unless they can turn things around in the coming weeks, the boys from Townsville could swing a heap of other changes as well, so it’s a case of pressure on and trying to please the home fans this week.
Prediction
I’m foolishly on a hunch the Cowboys will win this. The Warriors have been terrible in Townsville and their inconsistency might suggest they turn out a pretty poor performance here. I might be clutching at straws, but the Cowboys have to be due for a win at some point.
Cowboys by 8.
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