5:30 pm SATURDAY AUGUST 17th 2024 QUEENSLAND COUNTRY BANK STADIUM,TOWNSVILLE,QLD
- Toyota Forklifts Canberra Raiders Head to Townsville for Crucial Clash
- Raiders Aim to Rebound After Disappointing Home Defeat
- Cowboys Suffer Loss and Look to Recover from Second-Half Collapse
- Cowboys Need to Return to Basics for Success
- Raiders Face Backline Reshuffle with Rapana Out
- Crucial Points at Stake for Both Teams
- Key Team Changes for Both Sides
- Recent Head-to-Head and Key Players
- Prediction.
Toyota Forklifts Canberra Raiders Head to Townsville for Crucial Clash
The Toyota Forklifts Canberra Raiders head to Townsville this weekend for a crucial match against the North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday afternoon.
Raiders Aim to Rebound After Disappointing Home Defeat
The Raiders come into this round looking to rebound from a disappointing home defeat to the Manly Sea Eagles, with hopes of securing vital competition points.
Cowboys Suffer Loss and Look to Recover from Second-Half Collapse
Meanwhile, the Cowboys also suffered a loss in Round 23, falling 42-18 to their arch-rivals, the Brisbane Broncos.
North Queensland will be eager to recover after a frustrating second-half collapse against the Broncos. After leading 18-12, the Cowboys proceeded to concede five second half tries as they let a golden opportunity to put pressure on the top four slip. Cowboys coach Todd Payten described the capitulation bluntly. “But across the group we had too many guys miss their assignment and some guys missed it on multiple occasions. So that’s the disappointing part” Payten said.
Cowboys Need to Return to Basics for Success
To beat the Raiders, they need to go back to basics, dominate the middle and let the stars do the talking out-wide. Far too often this season, the Cowboys have let their opposition walk over them, especially at home as they have only won 50% of matches at QCB Stadium.
Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea, 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson , 10. Sam McIntyre 11. Heilum Luki 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Reuben Cotter, 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Jaxon Purdue 17. Griffin Neame, 18. Tomas Chester 19. Chad Townsend 20. Jamal Shibasaki 21. Semi Valemei 22. Marly Bitungane
Raiders Face Backline Reshuffle with Rapana Out
Canberra on the other hand, started so well last weekend going set for set with one of the game’s more exciting attacking units. However, a controversial knock-on ruling which could’ve led to a try if it was allowed to play on blunted Canberra’s run. The second half was yet another horrific capitulation as they trailed by as much as 34 points midway through the second half. Coach Ricky Stuart took aim at the decisions post game but acknowledged his team needed to find a way to overcome the decisions. This is normal for Stuart. He likes to blame everyone for a loss, except his own players.
Crucial Points at Stake for Both Teams
The two competition points at stake are crucial for both teams, with the Raiders currently in eleventh place and the Cowboys sitting in seventh with four rounds remaining.
Raiders
1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Sebastian Kris 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Ethan Strange , 5. Xavier Savage 6. Adam Cook 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling , 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Morgan Smithies , 14. Danny Levi 15. Emre Guler 16. Ata Mariota 17. Simi Sasagi 18. Albert Hopoate , 19. Zac Woolford 20. Trey Mooney 21. Hohepa Puru 22. Corey Horsburgh.
Referee. Todd Smith, Touch Judges, Phil Henderson, Tyson Brough, Bunker, Ashley Klein.
Key Team Changes for Both Sides
Jordan Rapana will miss the clash against the Cowboys after suffering a concussion in last week’s defeat, leading to a backline reshuffle. Ethan Strange will slot in at centre, while Adam Cook will take the position of five-eighth.
Danny Levi and Emre Guler return to the Raiders line up this weekend, both named on the interchange bench.
For the Cowboys, Jake Clifford has been named to return to the NRL in the halfback position.
Future Rooster Chad Townsend has been dropped
Cowboys Origin representative Jeremiah Nanai will miss the contest due to concussion protocols.
Recent Head-to-Head and Key Players
North Queensland have claimed victory in their last five games against the Raiders.
Canberra Raiders flyer Xavier Savage has crossed for three tries in his last four games, with his potential to break the game open key for the visitors.
Cowboys co-captain Tom Dearden is set to play his 100th NRL game on Saturday evening.
Prediction.
I have this game as too close to call, but in the meaning of helping everyone get a tip right this weekend. I slightly favour the Cowboys at home, Payten will have his troops riled up for this one, they rarely have two bad games at home on the trot. Canberra will be competitive but it will be well fought contest. Cowboys by a couple of points only.
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