Brisbane Broncos vs Nth Queensland Cowboys preview and teams – NRL 2013 Round 6
Joseph
The first match of the NRL Round 6 round is between the Brisbane Broncos and Nth Queensland Cowboys. The opening kick is set to commence at 7:35pm local time with the game to be played at Suncorp Stadium. The home team the Broncos are the slight favourites in the market. View our full preview and teams for the match between Brisbane Broncos and Nth Queensland Cowboys.
Sonny Bill Williams will once again be in the spotlight this Friday night when he faces former club Canterbury in a big grudge match. With this in mind we’ll refund losing try scorer bets if he scores a try!
If Sonny Bill Williams scores a try, we’ll refund your bet! (max $100 per market)
Preview:
Watch Out Broncos: Brisbane has bolstered their forward stocks with the return of Sam Thaiday but can they match it with the best front row in the business? James Tamou has averaged more than 145 metres per game this season and Matthew Scott over 135 as the brilliant partnership of the Australian Test bookends continues. There is no doubt that key playmakers Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen scare the life out of any defensive unit but it is the work of Tamou and Scott that provides them the space they need to do their thing. Do the Broncos have what it takes to match them?
Watch Out Cowboys: Broncos coach Anthony Griffin sprung a surprise when he moved Josh Hoffman from his preferred fullback spot to the wing late last year and again at the start of 2013, but rather than spit the dummy, Hoffman has been in scintillating form so far this season. The Kiwi Test aspirant has averaged 116 metres on Brisbane’s left edge as well as ranking fourth in the NRL for tries (five from five games) and equal seventh for tackle-breaks (21).
Plays To Watch: It’s as simple as they come but already the Cowboys have enjoyed tremendous success with it this season. When the ball goes to Johnathan Thurston on the right-hand side with a backline spread out behind him, there is little doubt what is about to take place: the big man running the ‘unders’ line is a decoy and it will inevitably be either Matt Bowen or Michael Morgan who receives the second-man ball instead. And with quick hands, their right-edge combination of Brent Tate and Ashley Graham (now Kalifa Faifai Loa in Graham’s absence) regularly find themselves on the way to the tryline. In fact, so often does North Queensland run this simple play that it’s surprising how often it works – already this season they’ve scored four times with this very move.
Where It Will Be Won: Up front. This is a battle of the big men if ever there has been one. The Broncos head into this clash with an all-Queensland State of Origin front row of Ben Hannant and Sam Thaiday who are averaging 117 and 107 metres respectively this season. But, likewise, the Cowboys also boast an all-Origin front row with fellow Queenslander Matt Scott and NSW youngster James Tamou having formed a superb combination over the past few seasons. It promises to be a fearsome confrontation.
Teams:
Brisbane Broncos:
Corey Norman, Josh Hoffman, Jack Reed, Justin Hodges, Lachlan Maranta, Scott Prince, Peter Wallace, Ben Hannant, Andrew McCullough, Sam Thaiday (c), Alex Glenn, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker
Interchange: Ben Hunt, Scott Anderson, David Hala, Nick Slyney.
Nth Queensland Cowboys:
Matthew Bowen, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston (c), Michael Morgan, Matt Scott (c), Rory Kostjasyn, James Tamou, Tariq Sims, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson
Interchange: Ray Thompson, Gavin Cooper, Scott Bolton, Jason Taumalolo, Ashton Sims, Clint Greenshields, Joel Riethmuller.
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