Tonight’s NRL Round 1 match is between Canterbury Bulldogs and Nth Queensland Cowboys. The game is to be played at Bluetongue Stadium with the opening kick to take place at 7:30pm. Nth Queensland Cowboys are the current favourites for the match in an open market. View our game preview including odds and teams.
Canterbury Bulldogs $2.00 vs Nth Queensland Cowboys $1.84 at Sportsbet Australia
Canterbury Bulldogs $2.05 vs Nth Queensland Cowboys $1.80 at Luxbet Australia
Preview:
Having dominated the headlines over the past fortnight following Ben Barba’s dramatic fall from grace, the Bulldogs finally have the chance to put it all behind them when they tackle fellow premiership aspirants North Queensland in Gosford on Saturday night.
What should have been a clash of two of the NRL’s most scintillating little men – Barba and his Cowboys counterpart Matt Bowen – will instead stand as a first look of just what life at Belmore might look like this season without the reigning Dally M Medal winner.
It’s an intriguing question.
Canterbury were superb in 2012, their skilful forward pack and a speedy backline earning them the minor premiership and a first grand final appearance since winning the comp back in 2004. In fact, even with international prop James Graham absent for the first nine rounds through suspension, they boast enough talent across the park to trouble anyone.
But Barba provides an X-factor with his brilliant kick returns and ability to find the try line. He will certainly be missed. The Bulldogs have instead opted for Steve Turner at fullback to start the season and have both Sam Perrett and Krisnan Inu as viable options should they feel the need to switch things up.
But they will be tested by a Cowboys side that has targeted 2013 as the year they are due that long-awaited premiership.
On paper at least they have a squad that is more than capable of doing so and while Canterbury’s pack, bolstered by the arrival of Tony Williams, looks even stronger than last year, North Queensland is one club that can boast similar quality across the board.
They head into Saturday’s clash with a full-strength squad that will see Tariq Sims come off the bench after suffering a season-ending injury in round nine last year.
Former England international hooker Scott Moore will make his NRL debut, becoming the first Englishman to represent the Cowboys, while out wide both Johnathan Thurston and Kane Linnett return from injury having missed the club’s trial matches.
With Turner taking over at fullback for the Bulldogs, former Canberra speedster Drury Low will make his club debut on the wing, while exciting young prop David Klemmer is likely to have his first taste of the NRL after being named on a five-man bench.
Teams:
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS:
Steve Turner, Drury Low, Josh Morris, Krisnan Inu, Sam Perrett, Josh Reynolds, Kris Keating, Aiden Tolman, Michael Ennis, Martin Taupau, Tony Williams, Josh Jackson, Greg Eastwood
Interchange: Dene Halatau, Dale Finucane, Tim Browne, David Klemmer, Mitch Brown (one to be omitted)
NTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS:
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston, Ray Thompson, Matt Scott, Scott Moore, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson
Interchange: Rory Kostjasyn, Ashton Sims, Tariq Sims, Jason Taumalolo, Scott Bolton, Robert Lui (two to be omitted)
