Match Centre

Round 23: Cowboys v Warriors preview

Can Cowboys regroup after last weeks devastation?

The sudden and tragic passing of Cowboys Premiership winning coach Paul Green last week undoubtedly hit the club hard and it showed as they struggled to get on top of a strong Roosters side last weekend, going down 32-18.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten shouldn't read too much into the loss - it was just their third loss since Round 6 - the others being against the only team above them on the ladder and defending Premiers Penrith and the team sitting one spot below them in Cronulla.

The Cowboys also boast an 85% win record against the Warriors since 2003, when playing in Townsville.

Payten will be using this game not so much to focus on winning, although he would be keen to get back to the winners circle, but moreso to return to their stingy defensive style that they were so effective with from Rounds 6 to 14 - where they conceded 92 points in 9 games. Since then, they've let in 158 points in 7 games. If they are to go deep into the finals, they need to address this issue and fast.

The Warriors will be a good opportunity for them to fix their defence too as they are the fourth worst attacking team so far this year. The only difficulty will come from an air of confidence in the Warriors camp after they belted a resurgent Bulldogs last week. The Warriors racked up 42 points last weekend, their highest score since their 50-14 hiding of the Knights in mid-2016.

Defensively though, the Warriors are a mess - the worst defensive side in the competition. They've conceded 52 points more than the last placed Tigers. Nothing has changed throughout the year to suggest that anything has changed or is about to for the rest of the season.

This contest could well be won up the middle. The Warriors are one of the worst teams for metres gained and the Cowboys one of the best. If the Warriors start slowly, they could well get blasted off the park.

The Warriors do have the wood on the Cowboys of late, winning 5 of the last 7 clashes.

Kyle Feldt returns to the wing for the Cowboys which sees Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow drop to the bench and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown out of the 17. Jordan McLean will be in the run-on side at prop, while Coen Hess is back to the bench.

The Warriors are unchanged from last week, however keep an eye on Chanel Harris-Tavita who is on the extended bench and coming back from injury. 

Last meeting: Round 5 2022 - Warriors 25 Cowboys 24

Who to watch: Jason Taumalolo could well be in for a huge game. With the feeble Warriors defence, he will be aiming to run hard and run often through the middle and the Cowboys will be looking to work off the back of his charges.

Jeremiah Nanai has scored 10 tries in his last 10 games and every time he has scored a try in 2022, the Cowboys have won. He has become a genuine target for the Cowboys attack on the edge, with his strong line running and good footwork close to the line.

For the Warriors, Tohu Harris is always a top performer who does so much work. Last week he ran for over 220 metres and was a menace to the Bulldogs edge defences. Addin Fonua-Blake was also a stand out last weekend and will be keen to step against an even tougher opponent this week.

Shaun Johnson though, who has struggled with form since returning to the Warriors, had an absolute cracker of a game against the Dogs. If he can back that up, the Warriors could give the Cowboys some genuine scoreboard pressure late in the game.

The favourite: The Cowboys to bounce back with a win here.

My tip: Cowboys to put all their efforts into shutting down Johnson and repelling the Warriors go-forward. They will put the points on when needed. Cowboys to win and display a bit of grit in their defence. Cowboys by 18.