The Cowboys will be hoping a return to Queensland Country Bank Stadium is the formula to get their season back on track when they host the Storm on Sunday afternoon with both teams having several Origin stars backing up.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
North Queensland Cowboys Vs Melbourne Storm
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Date: Sunday June 4, 4:05pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Peta Hiku 5. Semi Valemei 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Heilum Luki 13. Jake Granville 14. Jack Gosiewski 15. Jeremiah Nanai 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Griffin Neame 18. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 19. Brendan Elliot 20. Jason Taumalolo 21. Ben Hampton 22. Valentine Holmes 23. Reuben Cotter 24. Murray Taulagi
Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Aaron Pene 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Grant Anderson 18. Tyran Wishart 19. Marion Seve 20. Tom Eisenhuth 21. Tariq Sims 22. Kane Bradley
Referee: Peter Gough
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Cowboys are yet to have a bye this season and it can’t come quick enough, as they languish down in 16th place with a for and against of -90. A round 15 bye comes between two matches at home – a venue where four of their five wins this season have come.
The Cowboys do have three Origin stars in Reuben Cotter, Valentine Holmes and Murray Taulagi needing to back up from the Maroons victory over the Blues. It’s as good a turnaround as they could hope for though at present Taulagi is not a confirmed starter.
Despite the effects of the Origin match, the rest of the Cowboys squad including their entire spine, will be well rested and ready to fire. Drinkwater was particularly sensational in their last outing and now has 5 Try assist across his last two matches. He will also be relishing the chance at playing his old club he debuted for.
Aside from needing Drinkwater to continue his form, the pressure will be on the Cowboys pack who have been boosted with some star studded returns the last fortnight. Luciano Leilua and Jeremiah Nanai provide a potent attacking back row tandem for the Cowboys but have played limited games between them so far in 2023. Both could provide the X-factor needed to upset the Storm.
In stark contrast, the Storm have had two byes in the last five weeks and sit equal-first on the ladder with 18 points, but their for and against is a long way behind the rest of the top four. Craig Bellamy has named an unchanged 17 with Cameron Munster and Harry Grant to back up from Origin with less stars backing up for the Storm than they are ordinarily accustomed to.
Riding a two-game winning streak, the Storms success in the far north may very will hinge on Munster and Grant backing up. If either or both are rested, it could go a long way to helping the Cowboys get a much-needed victory. Like always it’s very hard to gauge what Bellamy will do with his team makeup.
This shapes up as a contest that may have no in between. Provided all the representative players are playing the Storm could easily replicate the hammering the Tigers dished out to the Cowboys only two weeks ago. Whereas if the competitive Cowboys side turns up an upset doesn’t seem to farfetched.
The Cowboys have an atrocious record against the Storm in the past so it’s going to be a Mount Everest scale challenge. In a Jekyll and Hyde season it’s also anyone’s guess which team will turn up for the home side come game day, but certainly fans will be hoping it’s the winning one.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Cowboys 1, Storm 9
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Cowboys by 6 points.
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