Round 7: Cowboys v Titans preview
Another chapter to be written in Queensland derby
The North Queensland Cowboys will host the Gold Coast Titans this Saturday evening in round 7. Due to it being ANZAC weekend, only 2 games will be played on the Saturday, with the usual 3pm game shifted to Monday. This means that this 5:30 fixture will be the first of the day.
The Cowboys will be cautiously confident heading into this home fixture, after a stunning come-from-behind win away against Canberra last Thursday. Despite an admittedly slow start, North Queensland turned around a halftime deficit of 12 points to overcome a woeful Raiders outfit 18-12.
It was young back-rower Jeremiah Nanai who crossed for the match-winner in the 71st minute, although his performance was marred by some disciplinary issues, giving away 4 penalties himself in the first half alone. The Cowboys put a lot of effort into locking him up until the end of the 2023 season, and they will no doubt want him to clean up his act a little.
Fullback Scott Drinkwater set the match-winner up for Nanai with a pinpoint kick and keeps his spot. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is nearing a return from a knee injury, but following strong performances from Drinkwater he may face a challenge getting his position back. Tabuai-Fidow has been named on the reserves.
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown and Griffin Neame return from concussion protocols, although Taunoa-Brown has been named as 18th man. Neame will take a spot on the bench in a welcome boost to the Cowboys pack.
The Gold Coast Titans will be desperate to end their poor run of form on this Saturday's trip North. Despite scraping wins against the Warriors and the Tigers, the Titans are sitting 10th on the ladder after two successive losses in the past weeks. Last week they were blown out of the water in the first half by Manly, but managed to put pressure on the Sea Eagles thanks to a late comeback effort.
It was a narrow loss of eight points in the end, with small margins becoming something of a pattern for the Gold Coast. Their 4 losses so far this year have been by an average of 5 points (4, 2, 6 and 8 points). Their 2 wins have both been by only 2 points, and against struggling teams. The Titans need to find some confidence this Saturday if they're going to fight for a spot in the finals.
Young gun Jayden Campbell is nearing a return from a rib injury, and he played at fullback in the opening three rounds for the Titans before being sidelined. Since his injury, however, Jamayne Isaako has taken the trip South from Brisbane to join the Gold Coast squad, and he has played well at fullback in Campbell's absence. When Campbell is fully fit, the fight for fullback will be well and truly on, and Isaako will be looking to show coach Justin Holbrook that he deserves the number 1 jersey for the remainder of the season.
The Gold Coast have won their past three encounters with the Cowboys including two last year. Prior to the past three clashes though, North Queensland had won 10 straight games against the Gold Coast in a record that stretched from 2014 through to 2020.
Last meeting: Round 21 2021 - Titans 36 Cowboys 14
Who to watch: Cowboys number 6 Tom Dearden has started to find his way in first grade. In and out of the Brisbane Broncos first team throughout the 2019 and 2020 season, he was offered a three year contract with North Queensland and made the move North mid-way through 2021. Having now cemented his spot, his confidence is at career high levels, especially holding his halves spot over the in-form Scott Drinkwater. If he can link with his halfback Chad Townsend well, then the Cowboys have already almost won the game.
The eyes of the football world are on David Fifita at the moment. After his high profile (and high price) signing with the Titans, he has had mixed fortunes with the club. One play he's a wrecking ball, the next an underwhelming block runner. If he can control the forward pack and create space for his halves and fullback, the Titans will have a real shot at their third win of the season.
The favourite: On paper it seems very hard to split these two teams, but the bookies appear to be giving Gold Coast the slight edge.
My tip: North Queensland will stay on track and on the back of a strong performance from the spine will win in a close one. Both teams have inconsistency to burn though, so who knows which way this will go. Cowboys by 4.
North Queensland Cowboys Form Guide
