Mathew Williams provides an insight and preview for the upcoming round 11 match between the Cowboys and the Dragons.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
North Queensland Cowboys Vs St George Illawarra Dragons
Venue: QLD Country Bank Stadium
Date: Saturday 13th May, 5:30PM
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Cowboys: 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. Coen Hess 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jack Gosiewski 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Mitchell Dunn 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 18. Riley Price 19. Ben Hampton 20. Zac Laybutt 21. Brendan Elliot 22. Marly Bitungane
Dragons: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Max Feagai 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Jack de Belin 9. Moses Mbye 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Billy Burns 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack Bird 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Michael Molo 16. Ben Murdoch-Masila 17. Josh Kerr 18. Toby Couchman 19. Jaiyden Hunt 20. Jacob Liddle 21. Zane Musgrove 22. Viliami Fifita
Referee: Chris Butler
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Dragons travel up to Townsville in round 11 to take on the Cowboys in this bottom four clash. Both of these sides have had their struggles in the early stages of the season and will be looking to right the ship and turn their fortunes around.
The Cowboys sit in 14th on the ladder and came into the season with far loftier ambitions with that following their incredible run into the top four last season but have thus far failed to fire in 2023. The home side used their Magic Round win against the Roosters to bounce back from their drubbing the week before at the hands of the Sharks and will look to build on this and use it as a springboard to begin their charge up the ladder in the coming weeks and improve their 4-6 record. The running game of Tom Dearden will be crucial in this one as he will look to terrorize the edge defence of the Dragons.
For the Dragons it has been a case of so close but so far away in recent weeks with the side losing their last five games by a margin of six points or less. They will fancy their chances against a Cowboys side that has been underwhelming this season and the with the added emotion of their inspirational skipper Ben Hunt’s 300th game they will have no lack of motivation coming into this clash. The choice to move Hunt to hooker to give Jayden Sullivan an extended run almost proved a masterstroke with the halfback providing a lot of attacking spark, scoring two tries in his 55 minute cameo and Sullivan will be looking to show he has the talent to take the seven job full time.
KEY MATCHUP
The matchup between the two livewire fullbacks should be worth the price of admission alone, with Tyrell Sloan and Scott Drinkwater both willing and more than able to leave oppositions head spinning with their creativity and flair on in the red zone. Both men will do everything they can to try and spark their team and break the game open when given the chance.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Cowboys 5, Dragons 5
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Cowboys by 8
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