Monday’s last NRL game for Round 4 is between Gold Coast Titans and Nth Queensland Cowboys with the opening kick to commence at 19:30. The game is to be played at Robina Stadium with the favourite for the match being Nth Queensland Cowboys. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Gold Coast Titans and Nth Queensland Cowboys.

WHERE AND WHEN: 19:30 | Monday 31/03/2014 @ Robina Stadium

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Odds Comparison:

Gold Coast Titans	2.40	2.45	2.40	2.45	2.40	2.32
Nth Queensland Cowboys	1.60	1.57	1.59	1.57	1.60	1.62

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Preview:

The final match of round 4 is an all Queensland affair with the Titans hosting the Cowboys on Monday night.

The Titans bounced back after receiving a schalacking from the Tigers a fortnight ago, with a much more determined effort against the Raiders in Canberra last week, winning 24 – 12 with Titans half-back Albert Kelly proving the difference.

$250 Gold Coast Titans vs Nth Queensland Cowboys FREE BET

It made it two wins for the season for the Titans – both away games – and they’ll be keen to show their home-crowd that the Tiger debacle was the exception to the rule.

An added bonus would be the return of fullback William Zillman and five-eight Aidan Sezer who have both been named in the starting line-up on Tuesday afternoon but are still under some concerns.

The Cowboys started the season with a come-from-behind win over the Raiders at home before a narrow loss to Brisbane and last week, the as then winless Warriors at home in Townsville.

They continue to be slow out of the blocks do the Cowboys and they places them under undue pressure throughout the game – they’ve made twelve errors in each of their last two games.

Coach Paul Green has gone with an unchanged side.

The Cowboys won 22 -10 when these two sides met most recently in round 23 last year, 22 – 10.

It was the first time in four matches the Cowboys had recorded a victory over the Titans who previously had produced three comfortably victories.

This game will be a real arm wrestle up front with two large and well occupied forward packs going at each other.

The first 20mins for the Cowboys is critical, if they can start well they should be able to keep the Titans on the back-foot whilst the home-side will need Zillman and Sezer in the side if they are a chance of winning.

Monitor the developments of the line-up and if the above players are included, the Titans at home may be able to make this a rough start to the season for the Cowboys.

Teams:

Gold Coast Titans:
William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Brad Tighe, Brad Takairangi, David Mead, Aidan Sezer, Albert Kelly, Luke Douglas, Beau Falloon, Nate Myles (c), Greg Bird (c), David Taylor, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Matthew White, Luke Bailey, Mark Minichiello, Paul Carter, Ryan James, Ben Ridge
Ins: Aidan Sezer, Ben Ridge
Outs: None
Other unavailables: Matt Srama (shoulder, indefinite)

Nth Queensland Cowboys:
Michael Morgan, Kyle Feldt, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston (c), Robert Lui, Matt Scott (c), Rory Kostjasyn, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Jason Taumalolo, Tariq Sims. Interchange: Ray Thompson, Glenn Hall, Ashton Sims, Scott Bolton
Ins: None
Outs: None
Other unavailables: Lachlan Coote (ACL, season), Hezron Murgha (knee, mid-season), Cameron King (knee, round seven), Ricky Thorby (knee, round five), Patrick Kaufusi (pectoral, season)

News:

Melbourne hope to have influential skipper Cameron Smith back on deck for next week’s clash with Gold Coast after having their unbeaten start to the NRL season ended in a “rubbish” showing in his absence.

Smith was a last-minute scratching from Saturday night’s 40-12 loss to Canterbury in Perth after his backed seized up in the warm-up.

The Storm started brightly enough, racing to an early 10-0 lead after star halfback Cooper Cronk laid on tries for Billy Slater and Will Chambers.

Then the competition leaders capitulated, conceding seven unanswered tries.

Cronk and coach Craig Bellamy refused to blame Smith’s absence, the short turnaround and long trek across the country after Monday night’s match against Newcastle or the club’s turbulent week for the loss.

“It certainly didn’t help us. But, at the end of the day, it is just one guy,” Bellamy said.

Bellamy labelled the Storm’s last hour as “rubbish” and Cronk backed up his coach’s damning assessment, agreeing the difficult week for the club had nothing to do with it.

Melbourne youngster Jordan McLean’s tackle on Alex McKinnon on Monday night left the Knights back-rower with a broken neck.

McLean was left distressed by the tragic injury and was only cleared to play in Saturday’s game on Thursday, with his dangerous throw charge to be heard next Wednesday.

“Difficult conditions, difficult circumstances all week, but it’s no excuse. We performed badly,” Cronk said.

“It was a sometimes performance. We started really well but, subconsciously, I think it gave us a false sense of security.

“We really took ownership of our roles in the first 20 minutes but, subconsciously, the little man on our shoulders, thought well wait for someone else to do it in the next 60.

“I’ve been part of this club for a long period of time and that’s not how we like to play football.”

Cronk couldn’t pinpoint the specific reason behind the performance, but insisted the McKinnon tragedy had no impact on him personally.

“I can only speak for myself but I was in the right mindset to play football,” said the reigning Dally M Medallist.

“I knew my role, I competed.”

Canterbury’s win, inspired by a wholehearted performance from prop James Graham and classy displays from halves Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson improves the Bulldogs’ record to 2-2 after a disappointing two-point loss to Penrith.

“It’s better than 1-3,” said coach Des Hasler said.

“This week for us was about consolidating. There was a bit of frustration last week.

“Against a great football team, to score the points we scored, come from 10-0 down, pull that back and then go on with it and keep them to only two tries, is a really good confidence booster.”

The only downer for the Bulldogs was an ankle injury to forward Frank Pritchard that could keep him out of Friday night’s clash with the Sydney Roosters.