Joshua Knox previews the North Queensland Cowboys taking on the Canberra Raiders on Saturday night.
Embed from Getty ImagesTEAM NEWS
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville, Date: Saturday April 24, Time: 7:35pm
Cowboys Team
- Valentine Holmes
- Kyle Feldt
- Justin O’Neill
- Connelly Lemuelu
- Murray Taulagi
- Scott Drinkwater
- Ben Hampton
- Coen Hess
- Reece Robson
- Jordan McLean
- Shane Wright
- Ben Condon
- Lachlan Burr
- Jake Granville
- Mitchell Dunn
- Francis Molo
- Corey Jensen
- Esan Marsters
- Peter Hola
- Jake Clifford
- Tom Gilbert
Team Changes
IN: Esan Marsters
Peter Hola
Tom Gilbert
OUT:
Raiders Team
- Caleb Aekins
- Sebastian Kris
- Jarrod Croker
- Curtis Scott
- Jordan Rapana
- Jack Wighton
- George Williams
- Ryan James
- Tom Starling
- Emre Guler
- Hudson Young
- Elliott Whitehead
- Ryan Sutton
- Siliva Havili
- Corey Harawira-Naera
- Corey Horsburgh
- Josh Papalii
- Matthew Timoko
- Iosia Soliola
- Matt Frawley
- Joseph Tapine
Team Changes
IN: Corey Harawira-Naera
Corey Horsburgh
Matt Frawley
Matthew Timoko
Ryan James
Referee: Peter Gough
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Cowboys
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Cowboys will enter this clash with immense confidence off the back of two consecutive wins: though a 30-18 win over the winless Bulldogs and a 34-30 victory over the inconsistent Tigers is not the strongest form guide to go off. It shapes as a tough week to take on the Raiders who usually bounce back strongly after disappointing defeats.
The Cowboys remain unchanged ahead of the clash as the team await the return of million dollar man Jason Taumalolo. North Queensland will need to improve their defensive efforts if they are to get the win over the Raiders, currently conceding over 31 points per game through the first six weeks.
Raiders
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Raiders team will be on notice this week following a Ricky Stuart barrage after a disappointing 35-10 loss at home to the Parramatta Eels in round six. It comes after a 30-10 defeat to premiership heavyweights the Penrith Panthers which has seen the Raiders slip out of the top eight at the beginning of round seven.
Stuart has made a number of changes, with Bailey Simonsson dropping off the wing and being replaced by Sebastian Kris. Forward Joseph Tapine drops to the extended bench with big man Josh Papali’i dropping to the bench, which sees Corey Horsburgh and Corey Harawira-Naera onto the bench for their first NRL performance of the season following off-field discretions in the pre-season. Co-captain Josh Hodgson also drops out of the team with Tom Starling his replacement at hooker.
PREVIEW
This shapes as a huge clash for the Raiders and their finals credentials after tough losses to two premiership chances over the last two weeks. The Cowboys enter the clash full of confidence coming off back-to-back wins (which are their only two wins for the season).
The Raiders have lost two members of their spine, with Charnze Nicole-Klokstad and Hodgson missing, which makes this clash much closer than it would be with the Raiders at full strength. On the other hand, dropping Newcastle-bound Jake Clifford and inserting Ben Hampton in at halfback has given the Cowboys a new lease on life in attack.
Don’t be surprised if this one is close until the death.
KEY STAT
The Cowboys and Raiders only met once in 2020 with the Raiders edging a tight 14-12 win in North Queensland. Canberra will be happy Taumalolo isn’t fit for the clash after he ran for 241 metres and scored a try in the round 12 clash.
PREDICTION
Expect the Cowboys to turn up with plenty of energy but the Raiders will run over the top of them late after a Ricky spray.
Raiders by 12.
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