NRL, ROUND 8, SAT, APRIL 22nd, 2023 NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
QUEENSLAND COUNTRY BANK STADIUM,TOWNSVILLE
Cowboys team:
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Tomas Chester 15. Jake Granville 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Mitchell Dunn 18. Riley Price 19. Ben Hampton 20. Brendan Elliot 21. Taniela Sadrugu 22. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
Jason Taumalolo is set for an extended stint on the sidelines after being booked in for surgery on his knee that could rule him out for close to two months.
Jack Gosiewski played his first game for the Cowboys this season last weekend and moves onto an edge with Reuben Cotter starting at lock.
Jordan McLean returns at prop and will be partnered by Coen Hess up front after the Queenslander has played in the backrow for the majority of the season so far.
Jake Granville will start from the bench to add some punch as fatigue sets in.
Knights team:
1. Lachlan Miller 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Kalyn Ponga 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Kurt Mann 14. Tyson Gamble 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Mathew Croker 17. Jack Hetherington 18. Simi Sasagi 19. Hymel Hunt 20. Jack Johns 21. Dylan Lucas 22. Adam Clune
Two big inclusions for Newcastle, with Kalyn Ponga returning for his first game since Round 2 alongside Jacob Saifiti.
Ponga’s return at five-eighth sees Tyson Gamble move to the bench to fill in as the utility with Kurt Mann starting at lock. Ponga has been out with concussion symptoms for some time but his speed is important here.
Brodie Jones is out with a quadricep injury, while Matt Croker will come off the interchange. Newcastle has lost seven of its last eight night matches.
PREDICTION.
This is a tough game to pick. You would think the Cowboys have enough here to win at home and in the heat of North Queensland, but the Knights have shown they will not be easy to beat especially with Ponga back. I will stick my neck out and go Cowboys, but only by plus 0.5 points @ $1.71 The Knights with plus 3.5 points start @1.83 looks tempting as well.
Any time try scorer is Dominic Young and Greg Marzhew for the Knights, and Murray Taulagi for the Cowboys.
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