North Queensland Cowboys
21
Match Complete
Newcastle Knights
20
| C. Townsend |  | 81 | ||
| J. Nanai |  | 76 | ||
| V. Holmes |  | 61 | ||
| T. Dearden | | 60 | ||
| 53 |  | K. Ponga | ||
| 49 | | K. Ponga | ||
| 48 | | G. Marzhew | ||
| K. Feldt | | 44 | ||
| V. Holmes | | 43 | ||
| C. Townsend | | 41 | ||
| 37 | | K. Ponga | ||
| 36 | | A. Elliott | ||
| 19 | | K. Ponga | ||
| 18 | | A. Elliott |
| 4 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 1 | Field Goals | 0 |
The North Queensland Cowboys host the Newcastle Knights to continue Saturday’s program at QCB Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores from 5.30pm AEDT.
Zac Laybutt has given North Queensland a potent injection of speed and skill at right centre and credits new assistant coach James Maloney for giving him a plan to attack.
The 22-year-old Papua New Guinea international scored two tries in a dazzling display in the 43-18 win over the Dolphins on Sunday.
The Cowboys lost veteran centre Peta Hiku at the end of last year to the English Super League, and Laybutt has been given first crack at filling the void. It is now his jersey to lose.
Two-time premiership winner Maloney was a half who could control a game, but one of his strengths was being able to spot a flaw in the opposition’s defensive line off-the-cuff and make them pay.
Newcastle struggled on home turf to open their season against Canberra and need to bounce back to avoid an 0-2 start.
Kai Pearce-Paul’s impressive debut off the bench has earned him as starting spot, while Enari Tuala hurt his quad and will miss out. Tom Jenkins comes in for a club debut after joining from Penrith, as does former Bunny Jed Cartwright.
Prediction
The Cowboys were humming against the Dolphins while Newcastle looked like they didn’t know each other in Round 1. Cowboys by 12
Game information
Venue: QCB Stadium
Kickoff: 5.30pm AEDT
TV: Fox League
Stream: Kayo Sports
Odds: Cowboys $1.42, Knights $2.90 – odds via PlayUp
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 18. Thomas Chester 19. Thomas Mikaele 20. Semi Valemei 21. Jack Gosiewski 22. Jake Clifford
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott 14. Jack Cogger 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Jed Cartwright 18. Brodie Jones 19. Will Pryce 20. Fletcher Sharpe 21. Brodie Jones 22. Thomas Cant
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
I say suck it up, they're lucky they aren't playing during the day. Rubbish NSW teams can't take the heat is all
NQR
Roar Rookie
Not a great advertisement for the top level of our game. Who ever walked away with the 2 points was always going to be lucky. To play that bad and still win? Maybe the positive is you play well how good are you. I’ve rarely seen an experienced kicker fail to find touch twice and rep players dropping the ball on first tackle? My take is you get this type of game playing afternoon football in the tropics early in the year.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Excellent thank you David
Redcap
Roar Guru
Well, he has been deceased nearly a century, so he might've slipped slightly out of the zeitgeist. :happy: Interesting chap (real name Michael Fihelly). He and his brother Jack (the state Attorney-General for a while) were two of the most significant figures in the game'e early history up here. Redcap turned the Courier Mail in favour of league with years of brilliant work after Jack adapted the Northern Union manifesto for the locals: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19531425/1560274
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Hmmm I wanna hot dog now.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
No Sir, I do not.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Out of interest, and given you’re a Queenslander, do you know who Redcap was?
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Oh that's very clever. Superbly done
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
You have no defence. You're Dufty
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
:thumbup:
Redcap
Roar Guru
I use my name if I'm doing a blog, including from when I submit the content to when it disappears from the main tab. Probably don't have to, but do anyway.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Oh I see what you did there!
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Enigma wrapped in a riddle wrapped in hot dog roll. Am I going nuts or do you keep changing your handle, D?
Luke S
Roar Rookie
Great comeback win by the Cowboys. That sort of clutch play should give them some moooomentum for the 2024 season!
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Just got home to see golden
showerpointlesspoint. Congrats Cows, feel for ya Knights.NQR
Roar Rookie
85% humidity at 4pm. Your right it was slightly less than the Cairns rainforest. Heat stroke is real and I think it’s interesting the NRL hasn’t identified after the Manly death.
Skippy89
Roar Rookie
Hastings is no premiership winning half. Neither is Gamble.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
tight game. Both teams will have to improve to trouble the top teams.
Nat
Roar Guru
Probably Robson. At least both captains are on home soil.
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