Saturday’s second and last NRL Round 13 match is between North Queensland Cowboys and Canterbury Bulldogs with the opening kick to commence at 7:30pm local time. The game is to be played at 1300SMILES Stadium although away team Canterbury Bulldogs hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Nth Queensland Cowboys and Canterbury Bulldogs.
WHERE AND WHEN: 1300SMILES Stadium, Saturday 8th June, 7:30pm
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Preview:
The Cowboys play the Bulldogs on Saturday, 7.30pm at SMILES Stadium. Cowboys coach Neil Henry is under a lot of pressure at the moment, with some reports saying he’s in danger of losing his job if he doesn’t start winning. While this match is a tricky one to pick with so many players involved in Origin 1, the Cowboys are favourites to win at home. Matt Scott, James Tamou, and Brent Tate are all expected to play for the Cowboys, and all must perform if the Townsville-based side want to improve on their disappointing 4-8 record.
Teams:
Nth Queensland Cowboys:
Cowboys: Clint Greenshields, Ashley Graham, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston (c), Robert Lui, Matthew Scott (c), Rory Kostjasyn, James Tamou, Tariq Sims, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Ray Thompson, Jason Taumalolo, Ashton Sims, Scott Bolton, Ethan Lowe, Michael Morgan, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Ricky Thorby
Canterbury Bulldogs:
Ben Barba, Mitch Brown, Tim Lafai, Krisnan Inu, Sam Perrett, Joel Romelo, Trent Hodkinson, Aiden Tolman, Michael Ennis (capt), Sam Kasiano, Frank Pritchard, Josh Jackson, Greg Eastwood. Interchange: Dene Halatau, Tim Browne, James Graham, Dale Finucane
T-Rex in line for Bulldogs return
Former NSW Origin back-rower Tony Williams could make a surprise NRL return from injury for Canterbury against North Queensland on Saturday.
Williams was not listed to play but he was with the Bulldogs team at Sydney airport as they headed off to Townsville on Friday seeking their sixth win in seven games.
The club’s two current Origin players, Josh Morris and Josh Reynolds, neither of whom were listed to play on Saturday, were also with the travelling squad and were expected to face the Cowboys.
Williams, who hasn’t played since the Bulldogs’ round 10 loss to Newcastle, has been battling knee and ankle injuries.
Reynolds didn’t get onto the field in NSW’s 14-6 win over Queensland in the Origin series opener on Wednesday and should be raring to go.
Bulldogs skipper Michael Ennis, who has played seven Origin games, sympathised with Reynolds, who has still to make his Origin debut.
“I felt for him the other night,” Ennis said of Reynolds.
“I know he prepared really well. I spoke to him a few times and he was ready to go.
Unfortunately, the way the game panned out, he didn’t get his opportunity but the pleasing thing for him is that (NSW coach) Laurie (Daley) is going to take him again (for game 2) and no doubt whenever he gets the opportunity on the field he’ll grab it with both hands.”
Hooker Ennis preferred to focus on Saturday’s game rather than his chances of playing in the second Origin fixture after Blues’ hooker Robbie Farah finished the first match with a broken nose and a fractured eye socket and cheekbone.
“I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing. I’ve no doubt he (Farah) will play in game two so I’ll just keep chipping away here,” said Ennis.
Asked if he had unfinished business with Origin, Ennis said: “I really enjoyed my experiences and my opportunities that I got there, and I’ve got a game to focus on tomorrow night rather than get caught up in a debate about Origin again.
“We (the Bulldogs) had a bit of a slow start to the season but we’ve built into some wins and got ourselves into a vital position sitting ninth on the ladder.
“It’s a very important game for us Saturday night and hopefully we can perform well.”
Ennis acknowledged the Bulldogs, who have Krisnan Inu back from suspension, would face a desperate Cowboys side coming off four successive losses.
“Any side with the class that they have – Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, James Tamou, Brent Tate, the list goes on so we’re under no illusions of what we’re walking into,” he said.
