Friday night in the NRL this week offers up an interesting clash between the Cowboys and Dragons from Queensland Country Bank Stadium. The action gets underway from 7.55pm and as always, Greg Davis has you covered with his betting preview below.
Cowboys vs Dragons Betting Tips
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville, Friday 10th June, 7.55pm (AEST)
Squads
Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Brendan Elliot 3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Ben Hampton 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Tom Gilbert 12. Heilum Luki 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Jake Granville 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Griffin Neame 18. Ben Condon 19. Tom Dearden 20. Jeremiah Nanai 21. Kane Bradley 22. Reuben Cotter 23. Valentine Holmes 24. Brendan Frei
Dragons
1. Cody Ramsey 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Tautau Moga 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Moses Mbye 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Jack Bird 12. Tariq Sims 13. Jack de Belin 14. Andrew McCullough 15. Aaron Woods 16. Michael Molo 17. Jayden Sullivan 18. Josh Mcguire 19. Jaydn Su'A 20. Jonathon Reuben 21. Jaiyden Hunt 22. Josh Kerr
Match Preview
Wait and bet late.
That’s the play with the Friday night clash between the Cowboys and Dragons in Townsville.
The clubs provided five of the 34 players for Wednesday night’s State of Origin belter that left many of the combatants admitting it was one of the toughest games they have ever played.
Team lists are unlikely to be finalised until the hour or so before kick-off given the huge physical toll that Origin takes from the players.
The Cowboys had the trio of Valentine Holmes, Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai in action while the Dragons had Ben Hunt and Tariq Sims on the field on Wednesday.
Nanai suffered a nasty ankle injury but returned to the field with the aid of painkillers and is unlikely to back-up. Cotter played the full 80 minutes and made 51 tackles and ran for 134 metres on debut so he’ll be tired. Holmes was outstanding playing on the wing and in the centres.
Hunt got 37 minutes at hooker for the Maroons while Sims had 57 minutes of game time for 25 tackles and 10 runs.
Origin players have been saying for the best part of 40 years that if you are going to back-up after an interstate clash, it is best to do it as soon as possible before you get really sore from the Origin battle.
Of course, the availability of the Origin players will have an impact. They are the best players in the game.
But North Queensland’s irresistible momentum may have more of a say in the final result.
The Cowboys have won seven of their last eight outings with North Queensland – minus its Origin contingent – disposing of the Gold Coast with two eight-minute try-scoring blitzes at Robina last week.
The Cowboys had Tom Dearden, Murray Taulagi and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as part of the wider Queensland squad so the confidence they would have gained from being in and around Camp Maroon will prove to be invaluable.
North Queensland’s defence has been outstanding in 2022, especially in the second halves of matches when they conceded just 42 points.
The Cowboys are humming along with their attack proving to be patient but precise.
The Dragons had the bye last weekend and lowered the colours of Canterbury 34-24 in their last start to follow on from their win over the Warriors.
St George Illawarra may be gunning for their third-straight win but the two victories have come against cellar-dwellers that have recently sacked their head coaches.
It is hard to see anything other than a Cowboys triumph here with the availability of Origin players dictating the margin rather than the result.
Prop Bets:
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 1st Try ($10 at Ladbrokes)
Cowboys -12.5
$1.90 (3 Units)
