Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 4 clash between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Canberra Raiders.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
North Queensland Cowboys Vs Canberra Raiders
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Date: Saturday 29 March 5:30pm (ADST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. John Bateman 12. Kai O’Donnell 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Jeremiah Nanai 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 18. Harrison Edwards 19. Zac Laybutt 20. Thomas Duffy 21. Karl Lawton 22. Thomas Mikaele
Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Trey Mooney 17. Ata Mariota 18. Danny Levi 19. Jed Stuart 20. Pasami Saulo 21. Albert Hopoate 22. Adam Cook
Referee: Adam Gee
Bunker: Liam Kennedy
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Cowboys will be looking for their first win of the season when they take on the Raiders at home this early Saturday evening.
Coach Todd Payten is under some early pressure to keep his job after three straight losses, with no real indication that there will be improvement in the future regarding finals success.
The Cowboys have named an unchanged side from last week’s game against Brisbane, but there is a notable addition to the reserves list with Zac Laybutt named there looking to return from an ACL injury sustained last season. Laybutt only played five games last season but looked to be a legit talent for Payten and he is obviously tempted to get him back in the mix sooner rather than later.
As for the Raiders, some would say they came crashing down to earth against Manly, others would say some unfortunate circumstances occurred during that match, and I’m going to leave that up to public opinions as coach Ricky Stuart certainly made his feelings known at the end of the game. Joe Tapine’s return from suspension will give them a boost going into this game, meaning Corey Horsburgh moves to lock, while Morgan Smithies will miss this game alltogether after suffering a concussion during the first half of Sundays game.
If Canberra thought that this game was going to be an easy way back into the winners circle they can think again, with the first alarming statistic showing the Cowboys have been a bogey side for Canberra winning their last six games. The Green Machine have to go back to round 12 in 2020 to find the last time they beat them.
The last time they met was at the venue they meet at this Saturday evening: it was an embarrassing display for Canberra with the Cowboys winning 42-4. Defence will be key for Stuart heading into this one as the Cowboys have posted 112 points the last three games they’ve played. The truth is the Cowboys aren’t the same team as even round 24 last year, and up until last weekend the Raiders were the surprise hot starters of the campaign.
There are some great match-ups on display this game highlighted by the English second row battle of Raiders old versus Raiders new: 2019 grand finalist with Canberra John Bateman takes on the new kid on the block Matty Nicholson. Nicholson scored an impressive double on debut against Brisbane and averages 38 tackles per game during his first two starts, earning the respect of people watching and giving us an early taste of his obvious ability.
Bateman left Canberra in controversial circumstances, made more controversial by him coming back and signing for another club in the NRL not too long after leaving. Bateman has the personality that would love to get one over his old club, and over the young kid who is now wearing the green jersey he once wore himself.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Raiders by 10 points.
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
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