TEAMS: NSWRL U17 UNE Harold Matthews Cup - 2024 Round 8
4 mins ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
North Queensland Cowboys v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
1300SMILES Stadium - Saturday 7:30pm
Can the Cowboys rich vein of form continue? Or will the Dogs rally in the heat?
We travel up to warm and sun soaked Townsville on Saturday night in what I'm predicting as the game of the round (along with the Dragons vs Rabbitohs match).
North Queensland have quickly turned around their fledgling season with a string of impressive attacking performances, led by star play maker Jonathan Thurston. Thurston has been top notch and it's little surprise that media all over the country are touting him as the best player in the world at the moment. I know it's early but another golden boot could be on it's way to the JT mantlepiece.
Cowboys coach Paul Green must be delighted with the turn around of his troops and will want that to continue this weekend. He has had to reshuffle his side after losing ball wrecking behemoth Jason Taumalolo to a knee injury, John Asiata comes in for him Kelepi Tanganoa is on the bench. Tanganoa is one to keep an eye on for all of you fantasy nuts!
Surely Canterbury's luck has to turn around soon? Doesn't it? Things got worse for the Dogs of war this week when Representative half Josh Reynolds was suspended for a week for tripping. This continues his long list of suspensions that he has incurred since coming into the league. Des Hasler will be frustrated more than anything else at Reynold's as he has struggled to get his NSW number 6 on the field in 2015.
His is fortunate that he can call on Noosa product Moses Mbye who has been a shining light for the Belmore based club so far this season.
Canterbury also recall Giant prop David Klemmer who returns from suspension in which will bulk up their forward pack. Brett Morris is still out so the Bulldogs will hope that the likes of Mbye and Josh Morris can add some spark throughout the 80 mins.
After being blown away for the first 20 mins against the Tigers two weeks ago, it is very important that the Dogs start well and complete their sets. When they play mistake free footy Canterbury are one of the best teams in the competition. Look for their huge forward pack to try and bully the Cowboys into submission in the first 20 minutes.
Last meeting: Round 20 2014 - Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 12 North Queensland Cowboys 20
Cowboys have won 2 of the past 3 clashes between these clubs but did lose the previous 5 before that. Canterbury have an amazing record up at 1300Smiles stadium, they have won 12 of 15 games dating all the way back to 1995. No doubt Paul Green won't be showing these stats to the team prior to kickoff.
Who to watch: Jonathan Thurston. Simple. His running game, kicking game and leadership is so important to the Cowboys success. It has been on the back of Thurston that the Cowboys have managed to turn their season around.
Look for him to be busting through the tired defenders late in each half, especially against a Dogs pack that is big and not very mobile. His kicking game will also be very important to get the Cowboys good field position early on in the game.
For Canterbury they need a big game from Josh Morris. The former Australian Centre has been lacking a bit in confidence of late and would really benefit from getting the ball early and in space. I'll be looking for Moses Mbye to get him some good ball, and for Morris to show us the skills that he has done for the majority of his 9 year career in the NRL. He has immense strength and his fend can make even the most solid NRL players look weak. Put him down for a double if the Dogs win this one.
The favourite: North Queensland have all the money flowing in their direction due to their recent good form and having the home ground advantage.
My tip: It's just too difficult to go past the Cowboys at home. They have lots of momentum and Jonathan Thurston is playing some of the best football of his career. Klemmer is a big return for the Dogs, but unless Trent Hodkinson can rediscover his 2014 form, then I think it'll be too big a mountain to climb for the Dogs. Cowboys by 10.
1. Lachlan Coote 2. Matthew Wright 3. Justin O'Neill 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Michael Morgan 7. Johnathan Thurston 8. Matthew Scott 9. Jake Granville 10. James Tamou 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Ethan Lowe 13. John Asiata
Interchange: 14. Ray Thompson 15. Rory Kostjasyn 16. Ben Hannant 17. Kelepi Tanginoa 18. Patrick Kaufusi
1. Sam Perrett 2. Curtis Rona 3. Josh Morris 4. Chase Stanley 5. Corey Thompson 6. Moses Mbye 7. Trent Hodkinson 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Michael Lichaa 10. David Klemmer 11. Josh Jackson 12. Tony Williams 13. Greg Eastwood
Interchange: 14. Sam Kasiano 15. Tim Browne 16. Frank Pritchard 17. Lloyd Perrett 20. Antonio Kaufusi
Referees: Ben Cummins, Henry Perenara; Sideline Officials: Russell Turner, Adam Reid; Video Referees: Shayne Hayne, Luke Phillips;