North Queensland Cowboys
31
Match Complete
St. George Illawarra Dragons
12
| V. Holmes |  | 80 | ||
| C. Lemuelu |  | 79 | ||
| 75 | | Z. Lomax | ||
| 74 | | J. Su'A | ||
| C. Townsend |  | 73 | ||
| M. Taulagi | | 43 | ||
| 37 | | Z. Lomax | ||
| 36 | | M. Suli | ||
| V. Holmes | | 30 | ||
| R. Robson | | 29 | ||
| V. Holmes |  | 22 | ||
| V. Holmes | | 12 | ||
| P. Hiku | | 10 | ||
| V. Holmes | | 6 | ||
| S. Drinkwater | | 5 |
| 5 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 4 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 1 | Field Goals | 0 |
Round 14 of the NRL Premiership kicks off tonight when the North Queensland Cowboys take on the St George Illawarra Dragons at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7.55pm AEST.
The State of Origin period can often give teams outside the 8 a bigger chance of upsetting teams above them. The Dragons get their chance tonight. However, there’s a problem. The Cowboys, without their Origin stars, still made a mess of the Titans last round.
The Cowboys continued on their merry way in Round 13, routing the Titans 32-6. It’s easy to forget that the Titans held the early lead. When the Cowboys got a chance though, they took their game to another level and the Titans had no answers.
Whilst the Cowboys backline has plenty of exciting personnel, it is the forward pack that is laying the platform. Jason Taumalolo remains the key forward, but the selection of Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai for the Maroons confirms that there is now depth.
The Cowboys have named an unchanged line up however all 4 Origin players are in the extended squad. We can expect some changes on game day.
The Dragons sit just outside the 8, courtesy of a bye. They are last-start winners, beating the Bulldogs 34-24 a fortnight ago. However, they will need to improve on that to challenge the Cowboys.
It seems an odd thing to say in a team game, but the chances of a Dragons win often comes down to one player, Ben Hunt. Hunt is nothing flashy however he can guide his team around and use his kicking game to pin down the opposition.
Hunt and Tariq Sims have been named to back up from Origin, whilst Jayden Sullivan replaces Tyrell Fuimaono on the bench. Both Jaydn Su’A and Josh McGuire have been named in the reserves and are chances to play.
Prediction
There has only been a two-day gap between Origin 1 and tonight’s game, so there may well be some late changes for both teams.
However, back at home, after winning without a number of stars last round, it’s hard to look past the Cowboys.
They are the real deal this year
North Queensland Cowboys by 10
Game information
Kick-off: 7:55pm AEST
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
TV/Stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, Nine Network
Odds: Cowboys $1.20, Dragons $4.50 – odds via PlayUp
North Queensland
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Brendan Elliot 3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Ben Hampton 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Tom Gilbert 12. Heilum Luki 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Jake Granville 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Griffin Neame
St George Illawarra
1. Cody Ramsey 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Tautau Moga 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Moses Mbye 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Jack Bird 12. Tariq Sims 13. Jack de Belin
Interchange: 14. Andrew McCullough 15. Aaron Woods 16. Michael Molo 17. Jayden Sullivan
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
....then be pulled from the soot filled rubble, rebuilt, rehabilitated, retrained... ...then to crash and burn again.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
You're not a Dragon supporter, are you?? Happily watching us crash and burn...
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Nah stick with Hook. He has it all: tactical savvy, brilliant recruitment, belief in the young players. The dragons are soaring.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
nope. A new coach could do wonders
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Is it much easier to be a Rabbitohs fan this year with Latrell out of the side and Walker MIA? For me it has been a brutal, sobering, humbling experience. And I don't do humility well. :silly:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Not chin up in that case CC but move your head out of the line, pivot and counterpunch with a good left hook. Exactly the sort of thing AJ doesn't do against Usyk with his feet nailed to the canvas.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
You got my attention when you said brothel . :happy:
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
It's a nice stadium and well located. Come up and make a weekend of it, or longer even.
Redcap
Roar Guru
I hope you've been drinking tonight, because that was nonsensical.
Rob
Guest
Well if it’s good enough for NSW to whinge I thought I’d point out how bad the Cowboys had it tonight. Anyway plenty of whinging about the bunker, coaches and players on this site. So whats the difference about giving a shout out to the bloke managing the brothel having players challenging his incompetent rulings? How many challenges were won?
PeterCtheThird
Guest
Good to see the Cowboys do what Queensland should have and didn’t on Wednesday night - take the field goal to stay more than a multiple of 6 points ahead, and requiring the extra score from the opposition if they want the win. If QLD had done that, the last-second goal-line heroics would not have been necessary.
Rob
Guest
He’s by far their best player and his defensive efforts save plenty also. Bird can throw up some ordinary defensive attempts.
spaceman
Roar Rookie
Cowboys just decimated them in the first half, too much pressure and the Dragons collapsed, to be expected. But the way the ref allowed the Dragons to lay all over the ruck in the second half, incredible, no send offs .. once again NSWRL pressure on Refs to favor / protect Sydney teams, it is so obvious?? when will it stop?
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
He's got a bit of attitude which is not a bad thing . Earlier in the year he was in opposition face all the time now's he's into his team mates . I'd give him a spell in the Reggie's to change his attitude .
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Don't tell them chin up unless someone is about to throw hands
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Beer and strippers who can complain.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Well someone had to fill Corey Norman's role when he left.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Ben Hunt, terrific attacking half, beautiful kicking game, good organiser, but geez he is taking the pi$$ with his defence. Made 12, missed 7 and two were one on one that led directly to tries. He is leading the NRL for missed tackles with daylight second.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Lomax quarreling with Moga. Maguire bickering with Moses. Not coming across as one team one direction mentality.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Its why I said they played dumb. And I love Benny Hunt.