North Queensland Cowboys
18
Match Complete
Sydney Roosters
34
| 79 |  | M. Ikuvalu | ||
| 75 |  | S. Walker | ||
| 74 | | S. Walker | ||
| 70 | | S. Walker | ||
| 69 | | S. Tupouniua | ||
| S. Drinkwater | | 63 | ||
| R. Robson | | 61 | ||
| 58 | | M. Ikuvalu | ||
| 39 | | J. Manu | ||
| 35 | | S. Walker | ||
| 34 | | B. Smith | ||
| 25 | | A. Crichton | ||
| S. Drinkwater | | 14 | ||
| H. Tabuai-Fidow | | 13 | ||
| S. Drinkwater | | 6 | ||
| J. Bowen | | 4 |
| 3 | Tries | 7 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Round 18 continues this afternoon when the North Queensland Cowboys host the Sydney Roosters at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 3pm (AEST).
State of Origin is over for another year, and we begin our run downhill into the finals. Whilst the Roosters are comfortably inside the top eight, it’s getting close to do or die for the Cowboys, with a loss here effectively ending their season.
The Cowboys would have been buoyed by their 12-2 lead early in the game against the Rabbitohs last weekend. They would have been much less keen on the 46-18 scoreline against them at full time. Despite being without five Origin players, Souths still had way too much class.
Todd Payten has issues at both ends of the field. The edge defence opened up against the Rabbits, with both wingers scoring hat-tricks. They are also causing few problems for opposition defences, struggling to construct a good attacking set.
Valentine Holmes is officially out of the team after injuring his shoulder in Origin, with Javid Bowen moving to fullback. Francis Molo and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are likely to back up from Origin duties, while Peter Hola comes in for the suspended Heilum Luki.
The Roosters never reached any great heights in their win against the Bulldogs last weekend. Questions are being asked as to whether the large number of mid-season retirements and long-term injuries have left the Roosters just making up the numbers this year.
Victor Radley was a welcome inclusion last weekend and played a lot of first receiver to help their young halves combination. He was close to best on ground, but couldn’t get close to acting skipper Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who was just brilliant for the Roosters.
James Tedesco has been ruled out after playing Origin 3 on Wednesday, meaning Joseph Manu will again fill in at fullback. Angus Crichton comes back in with Isaac Liu moving to the front row. Siosiua Taukeiaho is out with a hamstring issue.
Prediction:
The Roosters have been playing below their best, but I favour them to get the win this afternoon.
Victor Radley will be better for last week’s run and the Roosters are simply a better team than the Cowboys, even without Tedesco.
The loss of Valentine Holmes will hurt Todd Payten’s team, and I just don’t think they have enough points in them to get the win.
Sydney Roosters by 12.
Game information
Kick-off: 3pm (AEST)
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
TV: Fox League
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel GO, NRL Live Pass
Odds: Cowboys $3.25, Roosters $1.35 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Cowboys
19. Javid Bowen, 2. Kyle Feldt, 3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 4. Connelly Lemuelu, 5. Murray Taulagi, 6. Scott Drinkwater, 7. Tom Dearden, 8. Francis Molo, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Jordan McLean, 11. Shane Wright, 12. Mitchell Dunn, 13. Jason Taumalolo (c)
Bench/Reserves: 14. Jake Granville, 15. Tom Gilbert, 16. Coen Hess, 17. Peter Hola | 18. Lachlan Burr, 20. Ben Condon, 21. Daejarn Asi
Roosters
4. Joseph Manu, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Josh Morris, 19. Billy Smith, 5. Matt Ikuvalu, 6. Drew Hutchison, 7. Sam Walker, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (c), 9. Sam Verrills, 10. Isaac Liu, 11. Angus Crichton, 12. Sitili Tupouniua, 13. Victor Radley
Bench/Reserves: 14. Lachlan Lam, 15. Nat Butcher, 16. Egan Butcher, 17. Fletcher Baker
Clint
Roar Rookie
Yeah you're right. The O'Sullivan try was a very suspicious error. A strange outlier in an otherwise perfect record for the Bunker that year. And I bet Cummins is glad he reversed that 6-again call. Sure, he got death threats, stalking, abuse, bullying of his children, having to flee the country for a few weeks, suicidal thoughts after that grand final, but it was all worth it to avoid the ire of Uncle Nick. Seriously though, I think you might need to follow another sport, all of that salt cannot be good for your health :laughing:
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
doesn’t look that way and going on for ages. Unusual calls in favour? ever since and probably before they invented a way to have O’Sullivans dropped ball into a post to be a try in 2018, tell you it wouldn’t have been given if the Titans had ‘scored’ that.. ref in error? calls 6 again in a GF – gets the call over the radio that it might be wrong and reverse it, does so without warning and costs Raiders the GF. Why did he reverse it? because the officials didn’t want to be facing the Roosters if he blew 6 again and it cost them a GF. More recent times There’s been about 3 major bunker blow ups over the past year and a bit where officials were axed, two of these involved the Roosters with major sackings – the other was just a touchie. Annesly couldn’t move fast enough to sack the last set of officials who really upset Robbo. Tauk’s binned when Cleary slips into him – Dragon winger got a month when Teddy slipped into him. JWH and Radley are consistently supremely lucky, freakin’ Radley gets 3 reports in a game and not sent off???. After Hutchinson was kneed Roosters played Cows and Feldt cops a set of knees – looked pretty deliberate – in the back and nothing done. Just last week Roosters are all offside on their line, consistently and repeated offences and let go. I realise teams get good and bad calls, but the Roosters being the most penalised team is a smoke screen trade off to cover their leg-ups so the issue isn’t more scrutinised. They get huge leg ups from the NRL, on and off the field; SBW, Suaallii – the list is very very long.
Clint
Roar Rookie
How does it tell me that? Unusual calls in favour? Like when Brown ruptured Hutchison's spleen and Niukore took Teddy's head off in one play and no referee on the field or in the bunker found reason to bin anyone? Proctor coat hangers a roosters player and stays on the field? Tauk's binned when Cleary slips into him? Welch roughs Walker after the kick, incidental high contact, no penalty? Come on. They get good calls and they get bad calls. The officials are not scared of them.
Rob
Guest
Green!!!!!
Rob
Guest
You realise the reason he got to his feet so quickly was no one had a hand on him? Hammer runs 80m and is tackled and held down by 2 players.
Rob
Guest
I prefer he tried to score. Playing meant every defender had to retreat. You know like the Rooster never did after Hammer was held down.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
It should be a Dally M category… lots of competition for the winner but Klein would have short odds
R N
Roar Rookie
The Hammer is something special... so good to watch. The bos taurus are not the smartest team. It's got to point I just factor in their brain explosions as part of watching them! :unhappy:
Rob
Guest
Holding Hammer down then not get back on side then hold down again killed the momentum. Cowboys get 6 again the Roosters got Penalties.
Cyril Snodgrass III
Guest
Roosters snag another win...despite another poor performance by Fumbles Ikuvalu...the first two Cowboys tries were scored down the right side....where Ikuvalu "defends" The Cowboys kicked to Ikuvalu on 13 occasions,,,and he dropped 2 balls to put Easts under incredible pressure Its no good scoring a try from 5 metres out if you constantly miss tackles and drop high balls NRL coaches have all identified Easts weak link,,,,,,,Fumbles Ikuvalu
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Probably tells you how much they don’t get penalised for. Go and do some stats on crucial 6 agains, unusual calls in favour and the amount of times officials get axed on the back of some decision that upset the Roosters. Also, tells a story that they lose to the top 5 but beat everyone below. Refs know they are in for it if chooks lose to a lesser team and anything can be traced back to them. Expectation is a powerful thing.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Didn't seem to. Highlights will be worth it to see The Hammer run, but not the last 20 minutes. Cows had some brain explosions
Gee up
Guest
Maybe behind? They are miles behind..
Clint
Roar Rookie
They are the most penalised team in the comp mate. The officials must be so scared hey
Watda
Guest
Yep...fingers crossed, a long way to go....atm need a Bradbury from the top 2....and Souths to play their regular crap game against us?
Dutski
Roar Guru
Roosters cementing their place as one of the top mid table teams
David Holden
Roar Guru
I think you are maybe behind the Rabbits and Sea Eagles. We will see when Tedesco comes back. Panthers and Storm are well ahead of everyone so I agree with you
Watda
Guest
You obviously mean he blew his whistle and pointed to the ground 7 times?
David Holden
Roar Guru
Thanks all for joining the blog this afternoon. Go the Sharkies next up and enjoy the rest of your weekend
Watda
Guest
Yep....as a chookie supporter, we are a long way off but we can pretend like Souths and Manly fans??