Saturday has three NRL matches with the third game for Round 1 is between Nth Queensland Cowboys and Canberra Raiders with the opening kick to commence at 9pm (AEDT). The game is to be played at 1300 Smiles Stadium with the favourite for the match being Nth Queensland Cowboys. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Nth Queensland Cowboys and Canberra Raiders.

WHERE AND WHEN: 1300 Smiles Stadium, Townsville, Saturday March 8, 9pm (AEDT)

Odds Comparison:

Nth Queensland Cowboys	1.30	1.33	1.32	1.33	1.30	1.33
Canberra Raiders	3.50	3.40	3.35	3.40	3.50	3.25

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

Preview:

The Cowboys and Raiders meet in Townsville with both coaches hoping to kick off the season on a winning note for their new clubs.

$250 Nth Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders FREE BET

Coach Paul Green announced a strong outfit for the Cowboys whilst Ricky Stuart, who is now at the Raiders’ helm after only one disastrous year at Parramatta, has also selected a capable line-up.

Last season couldn’t have finished any differently for these two sides.

The Raiders, who looked half a chance of sneaking into the finals halfway through the season, lost their last six matches whilst the Cowboys won their last six, earned a spot in the finals only to lose that game in controversial circumstances to Cronulla.

Whilst it was a heartbreaking way for the Cowboys to bow out of last season, it showed what the outfit was capable of when firing on all cylinders.
With John Thurston directing traffic behind one of the biggest forward packs in the competition that is littered with representative players, there’s no reason why the Cowboys can not be a force this year.

They need to start better than the 2013 season though where they inexplicably lost four of their first six games.

The Raiders’ 2013 year was not a good one. Off field drama, a player’s revolt that lead to axing of Coach David Furner and missing the finals, all contributed to a forgetful season.

Ricky Stewart will be starting from scratch but a quick look through his first starting line-up suggests he has the personal available to achieve results.

Terry Campese will captain the side at five-eighth with plenty of pace outside in the shape of Reece Robinson (wing) and exciting fullback Anthony Milford.

The Cowboys have been comprehensive victors the last two times these sides have met in North Queensland, registering 18 and 22 point wins. Expect them to be too strong again.

All bar one of the last five games between the two sides have resulted in total match scores of over 40 points.

Tips:

Nth Queensland Cowboys:

Michael Morgan, Kyle Feldt, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston (c), Robert Lui, Matt Scott (c), Ray Thompson, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Jason Taumalolo, Joel Riethmuller

Interchange: Rory Kostjasyn, Tariq Sims, Glenn Hall, Scott Bolton, Ashton Sims, Zac Santo (two to be omitted)

Canberra Raiders:

Anthony Milford, Reece Robinson, Jarrod Croker, Matt Allwood, Edrick Lee, Jack Wighton, Terry Campese (c), Dane Tilse, Glen Buttriss, Brett White, Josh Papalii, Joel Edwards, Shaun Fensom

Interchange: Josh McCrone, Jarrad Kennedy, Paul Vaughan, Shannon Boyd, Mark Nicholls (one to be omitted)

News:

New Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has named two debutants to take on North Queensland in their NRL season opener on Saturday, with Matt Allwood given the task of filling the boots of sacked star centre Blake Ferguson.

Allwood, 21, slots into a re-jigged backline courtesy of a Stuart shake-up, with Jack Wighton confirmed to make his first start at five-eighth.

“(Allwood) has got a lot of speed, he’s defensively very strong and he’s worked hard over the off-season,” Stuart said.

The rejig means skipper Terry Campese will now don the No.7 jersey, while 2013 Mal Meninga Medallist Anthony Milford will retain his fullback duties.

Winger Edrick Lee has been named to make his first game back since breaking his arm last year, while Reece Robinson has scored the other wing spot.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old prop Shannon Boyd has been named on the bench to make his debut following injuries to frontline props David Shillington and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs.

Stuart admitted the rookie would face a a huge challenge when he lined up against Kangaroos props James Tamou and Matt Scott.

“It is a big task. We’re playing against three or four world-class players in this Cowboys team,” Stuart said.

“But I wouldn’t put them in if I wasn’t confident in them.”

Halfback-turned-hooker Josh McCrone has been named on the bench behind No.9 Glen Buttriss, with Stuart confirming McCrone would come onto the field in the hooker role.

Raiders: Anthony Milford, Reece Robinson, Jarrod Croker, Matt Allwood, Edrick Lee, Jack Wighton, Terry Campese (capt), Dane Tilse, Glen Buttriss, Brett White, Josh Papalii, Joel Edwards, Shaun Fensom. Interchange: Josh McCrone, Jarrad Kennedy, Paul Vaughan, Shannon Boyd, Mark Nicholls (18th man).