The first match today for the NRL Round 2 is between Nth Queensland Cowboys and Melbourne Storm. The opening kick is set to commence at 6:30pm local time with the game being played 1300Smiles Stadium. View the full match preview.
Round: Round 2, Saturday, 6.30pm (Qld)
Stadium: 1300SMILES Stadium
Odds:
Nth Queensland Cowboys $1.92 vs Melbourne Storm $1.92 at Sportsbet Australia
Nth Queensland Cowboys $1.86 vs Melbourne Storm $1.98 at Luxbet Australia
Preview:
Watch Out Cowboys: Melbourne are on a hot streak, and they are undefeated in their past 10 matches, including their Round 1, 30-10 victory against the Dragons, the World Club Challenge triumph and their 2012 Grand Final victory. Their scorching form revolves, as per usual, around the big three of Slater, Cronk and captain Cameron Smith – and all three, Queensland and Australian representatives, remain deadly with the ball in hand despite now nearing ‘veteran’ class. North Queensland, you’ve been warned.
Watch Out Storm: Last week the Cowboys proved lean, mean scoring machines against the Bulldogs in Gosford. They were efficient and clinical in their victory, recording five line-breaks and 1403 metres gained to the Bulldogs’ 1252 metres in the 24-12 romp. Cowboys props Matt Scott (143 metres) and James Tamou (161 metres) in particular carved huge inroads into the Bulldogs’ big forwards. If they steamroll another forward pack this Saturday night, it’ll prove almost impossible for the Storm’s stars to stop.
Plays To Watch: Cameron Smith darting from dummy-half to attract the markers and ‘A’ defender to create room for his first receiver; ‘JT’, ball in two hands, twisting, turning and presenting the Steeden to a range of his teammates only to take on the defence himself; Billy Slater’s high-octane, energy-charged, helter-skelter sprints in attack and defence; Ashley Graham getting himself in position to score a four-pointer… yet again (he was equal top try-scorer in the NRL and scored a double last weekend).
Key Match-Up: Is there a player in the NRL with worse luck than Matty Bowen? Amazingly, the man they call ‘Mango’ has been restricted to just 10 games for Queensland from 2003-2007, when his form really warranted much more. Unfortunately for him Billy Slater’s presence has had more than a little to do with it. However, for Cowboys fans, Bowen’s personal loss is their gain – and what a significant boost it’s proven to be. In 2012, JT’s rejuvenated sidekick finished second in the Dally M Medal following a season that resulted in 13 tries, 20 line-breaks, 19 line-break assists and 27 try assists. Here’s his chance to go one-up on adversary Slater – and prove once again he will never look out of place in a Maroons jersey.
Where It Will Be Won: Defence is the go-to point of emphasis for most coaches, but in recent years of Cowboys-Storm clashes in Townsville it’s almost always been forgotten about.
Last year Melbourne blew the Cowboys away at the stadium formerly known as Dairy Farmers, with a 42-18 victory. In Round 3 the year before, though, the home side triumphed 34-6.
Who’s going to turn up ready to dominate their opponents in the Townsville clash this year?
The History: Played 25; Storm 18, Cowboys 7. At 1300SMILES Stadium the Storm retain the decided advantage with 10 wins from 14 meetings.
Match Officials: Referees – Gerard Sutton & Brett Suttor; Sideline Officials – Daniel Eastwood & Dave Munro; Video Referees – Paul Simpkins & Chris Butler.
Televised: Fox Sports 1 – Live 6.30pm (Qld), 7.30pm (NSW).
Teams:
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, Clint Greenshields (one to be omitted)
STORM:
Billy Slater, Matt Duffie, Will Chambers, Justin O’Neill, Mahe Fonua, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith, Bryan Norrie, Tohu Harris, Ryan Hoffman, Ryan Hinchcliffe
Interchange: Jason Ryles, Lagi Setu, Siosaia Vave, Junior Moors, Slade Griffin (one to be omitted)
