The first of today’s NRL Round 4 matches is between New Zealand Warriors and Nth Queensland Cowboys. The opening kick is set to commence at 6pm local time with the game to be played at Mt Smart Stadium. The away team are the favourites in the odds. View our full game preview and teams for the match between New Zealand Warriors and Nth Queensland Cowboys.
Round: Round 4, Monday 6pm
Stadium: Mt Smart Stadium
Odds:
New Zealand Warriors $2.75 vs Nth Queensland Cowboys $1.47 at Sportsbet Australia
New Zealand Warriors $2.75 vs Nth Queensland Cowboys $1.47 at Luxbet Australia
Preview:
Watch Out Warriors: Surely international props Matt Scott and James Tamou will fire up for the Cowboys and make it their business to be the dominant forwards on the field in this game. That way, Johnathan Thurston might get some room in which he can weave his magic from halfback. The Aussie bookends were surprisingly quiet against the Knights, Scott running just 79 metres and Tamou 97 metres. If it’s wet and the game is played in tight, expect them to bounce back. (Heck, expect them to bounce back regardless of the weather!)
Watch Out Cowboys: Everyone is waiting for Shaun Johnson to explode at halfback for the Warriors. The 22-year-old is potentially one of the biggest stars in the NRL, but like so many of his teammates he is way down on his best form. Could this be the week when he finally cuts loose again? Only Canberra’s Sam Williams and Souths Adam Reynolds has run fewer times than Johnson’s four runs a game. That’s not nearly enough involvement given his speed and his sidestep.
Plays To Watch: There are few things more dynamic in the NRL than Thurston and Matt Bowen combining in attack to carve up the opposition. They have a great understanding, and against a struggling Warriors side they might put on a show.
Warriors centre Konrad Hurrell has come up with just one try in this so far sorry season for the team. He scored 12 in 17 games last season. He’s a dynamo given the opportunity, and if there is a Warriors revival here, he will be a key player.
Where It Will Be Won: The Warriors have no hope unless they can compete with a Cowboys forward pack that looks tremendous on paper but which overall hasn’t lived up to that rating so far this season. The Cowboys look to have the edge in the backs as well, so they really just need the forwards to do their job to set the team on the road to victory.
The History: Played 31; Warriors 16, Cowboys 15. The Warriors have won three of the past five meetings between the sides.
Match Officials: Referees – Gavin Badger and Henry Perenara; Sideline Officials – Jason Walsh & Dave Ryan; Video Referees – Paul Mellor & Reece Williams.
Televised: Fox Sports 1 – Live, 6pm (4pm AEST).
The Way We See It: It would take a brave man to tip the Warriors against any team at the moment. Perhaps the worst thing against them this week – even worse than their own form – is the fact the Cowboys would have been embarrassed by their own performance in losing to the Knights. Cowboys to bounce back and win by 10 points.
Teams:
WARRIORS:
Kevin Locke, Glen Fisiiahi, Dane Nielsen, Konrad Hurrell, Ngani Laumape, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Sam Rapira, Elijah Taylor, Ben Matulino, Ben Henry, Simon Mannering (capt), Todd Lowrie
Interchange: Jacob Lillyman, Feleti Mateo, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Pita Godinet, Bill Tupou (one to be omitted)
COWBOYS:
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Michael Morgan, Matt Scott (capt), Scott Moore, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson
Interchange: Anthony Mitchell, Ashton Sims, Scott Bolton, Jason Taumalolo, Blake Leary (one to be omitted)
