The North Queensland Cowboys host the New Zealand Warriors in Townsville as Round 23 of the NRL continues. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 6pm AEST.
Last weekend’s defeat to the Roosters was a setback in North Queensland’s quest for a top-two finish and a home final, with Cronulla drawing level on points and the Cowboys with two tough games to finish the season, away to Souths and at home to Penrith.
The Sharks are circling and victory at home to a demoralised Warriors team this evening is a must.
If the Cowboys can hold on to the ball at their own end of the field and give Tom Dearden, Valentine Holmes and Jeremiah Nanai the chance to strut their stuff at the other end, they’ll be far too much for the Warriors to cope with.
The old adage, ‘attack is the best form of defence’ certainly applies to the Cowboys who, even while they’ve been winning, have been leaking plenty of points in the second half of the season.
If the Cowboys do present the Warriors with opportunities, they’re quite capable of taking them and are coming off a comprehensive 42-18 victory over Canterbury in Auckland last weekend.
But the Cowboys are at home and have plenty to play for and the Warriors have neither of those things. It’s hard to envisage anything other than a Cowboys win.
In team news, the Cowboys welcome back Kyle Feldt from injury, with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow reverting to the bench and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown dropping out of the 17.
The Warriors team that beat the Bulldogs last weekend has been retained, with Chanel Harris-Tavita a chance of being a late inclusion after being named in jumper 18.
Prediction
Here’s a fearless prediction: there’ll be plenty of points in this game. It’s just a matter of whether it’ll be one-way traffic in favour of the Cowboys or whether the Warriors can get in on the act.
There are sterner tests ahead for the Cowboys, but this one might give us some idea of where they’re at heading into the finals. I’m tipping them to ruthlessly dismantle the Warriors.
Cowboys by 30.
Kick-off: 6pm AEST
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium
TV/Stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Odds: Cowboys $1.09, Warriors $7.50 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
North Queensland
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Tom Gilbert 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 15. Luciano Leilua 16. Coen Hess 17. Griffin Neame
New Zealand
1. Reece Walsh 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Viliami Vailea 4. Marcelo Montoya 5. Edward Kosi 6. Daejarn Asi 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Tohu Harris 11. Euan Aitken 12. Jack Murchie 13. Bunty Afoa
Interchange: 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Tom Ale 16 Eliesa Katoa 17 Josh Curran
Rob
Guest
They should have been better. They murdered several opportunities through arrogance or poor execution. The game deteriorated along with some bizarre officiating in the last 10mn. Defended well but the Warriors didn’t have a good night. Tom Dearden was great as usual and Nanai is a special talent.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
It sounds like they treated it like a practice run in some ways, without dissong our cousins across the Tasman are concerned. Pleased Dearden is hitting his peak and with Val having a great year as suporting cast, next year looks finer.
Redcap
Roar Guru
That's the guy. Mam's pretty good but I'd take Dearden any day.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Jimmmy you need a number 12. It's a starting 13. It'd look really weird to have teams run out with 10, 11, 13, 14.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Isn't he the bloke the Broncos flicked cause they thought he was rubbish?
Redcap
Roar Guru
They were a bit too cute at times, going for glory plays which led to errors, especially in the second period. __ Overall, they were very good. Payten will probably be stressing a few safer options here and there ahead of the next few games. __ Dearden’s a gem.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Err little bit tough to move from 1st place there scholar.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
PeterCtheThird
Guest
You mean nothing like Ivan and the boys would ever dream of doing, being upright and honest good citizens? If you say so…
up in the north
Roar Rookie
I've been busy, was it a good outing by the Cowbies, I noticed they were leading all game and they obviouly kept on scoring for 80 but the stats say their completions were ordinary and their errors were also high. When you play the big boys you need to be more disciplined. A wins a win, good job.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
If Cowboys show they can't be caught for second by the last round, I can easily see some dodgeball coming from the Sharks. Let Knights beat them, so they drop back to 4th, and stay in Sydney.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Sooner the better.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me on the blog tonight. Stick with The Roar for coverage of Brisbane vs Melbourne with David Holden coming up next. Bye for now.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Thanks David. Great call.
Redcap
Roar Guru
FT’ The Cowboys have thrashed a poor Warriors outfit in Townsville. They even left a few tries out there in a thoroughly dominant second half performance. The halves, Dearden and Townsend, were outstanding, Dearden especially, while the middles dominated their Warriors counterparts. The less said about the Warriors the better. North Queensland…48 New Zealand...........4
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Hopefully that's played us into some form. Warriors didn't throw a lot at us but you can only play what's Infront. Warriors need to chop the dead wood. Johnson, Walsh, Number 12. You can't have guys like that in any team.
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
Well that sucked. Hope Walsh doesn’t play again, he can jump on the plane. On to 23.
Noel
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the call, David.
Redcap
Roar Guru
80’ Townsend strips the ball from Walsh in a one-one-one tackle. The Cowboys come away and should take us to full-time. Townsend's kick from his own 40 is out on the full, and there's not time for the game to restart. Full-time. North Queensland…48 New Zealand...........4
Redcap
Roar Guru
79’ The Warriors lose the ball and its a scrum to the Cowboys 10-out from their own line. Taumalolo makes a mistake of his own. Scrum Warriors 30-out from the Cowboys' line. North Queensland…48 New Zealand...........4