Queensland Country Bank Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 14 NRL game between North Queensland Cowboys and New Zealand Warriors. The game kicks off at 5:30 pm with North Queensland Cowboys heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the North Queensland Cowboys vs. New Zealand Warriors game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Saturday June 8, 2024 at 5:30 pm
Where: Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
North Queensland Cowboys vs New Zealand Warriors Odds
North Queensland Cowboys vs New Zealand Warriors Preview
North Queensland and the Warriors both sit outside the Top 8, but both teams are coming off remarkable shorthanded victories brimming with character. This shapes as a massive swing clash with just one competition point separating the teams.
A patched-up Cowboys side stripped of half a starting line-ups worth of rep stars that had not conceded less than 18 points in a game this year somehow overturned a 16-4 second-half deficit to pip the star-studded Roosters 18-16 in Sydney last Sunday.
The likes of Scott Drinkwater were hugely influential, but debutant centre Jaxon Purdue was among several second-stringers to stand tall.
It was the Cowboys third straight win after losing five in a row, but this exceeded anything Todd Paytens side has delivered in 2024 in the grit department.
The Cowboys six Origin reps have all been named in the reserves this week with a 72-hour turnaround from game one.
The Warriors enjoyed their first bye last weekend, having resurrected their campaign in the most unexpected of circumstances over the previous fortnight.
With up to 10 first-choice players missing, they stunned the Panthers 22-20 in Magic Round and after another raft of enforced changes pulled off an equally amazing 24-20 win over the Dolphins in Round 12 after trailing 16-6.
Top-liners Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Wayde Egan, Rocco Berry, Addin Fonua-Blake, Kurt Capewell and Tohu Harris all return to action, but Shaun Johnson is at least another week away.
The Warriors have won seven of the teams last 10 encounters, but only three of the last 16 in Townsville.
But last year Andrew Websters team made a big statement with a 26-12 win on the road in Round 3 and backed it up at home four weeks later 22-14.
This is about the time last year the Warriors started their top-four charge. Slotting their stars back into a winning side is a delicate balance for Webster, but the combination of Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita provides the visitors with calm direction.
Whoever turns up with the greater defensive resolve something the Cowboys have only delivered on once in 2024 will take this one, and the fresher Warriors may be the better value option as a $2.35 outsider.
Content provided by Ladbrokes
North Queensland Cowboys vs New Zealand Warriors Tip
We're tipping North Queensland Cowboys to win at $1.73 odds.
North Queensland Cowboys vs New Zealand Warriors Teams
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Braidon Burns 6. Jake Clifford 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Sam McIntyre 10. Griffin Neame 11. Heilum Luki 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Thomas Mikaele 14. Tomas Chester 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Jamal Shibasaki 17. Jason Taumalolo 18. Thomas Duffy 19. Valentine Holmes 20. Murray Taulagi 21. Tom Dearden 22. Reece Robson 23. Jeremiah Nanai 24. Reuben Cotter
Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Te Maire Martin 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Marata Niukore 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jazz Tevaga 16. Tom Ale 17. Kurt Capewell 18. Freddy Lussick 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Bunty Afoa 22. Edward Kosi 23. Moala Graham-Taufa