Dairy Farmer’s Stadium, Saturday 16th March
LAST WEEK
North Queensland ($1.92)
The Cowboys ventured to Gosford to take on last year’s Grand Finalists, Canterbury who fielded a side without several key players. Jonathon Thurston played a major part in all of the Cowboys three first half tries and at half time, they took an 18 -12 point lead into the break. The game was still anyone’s in the second half and it was only a try to Ashley Graham in the 59th minute, that gave the Cowboys the breathing space they required and eventually, a 24 -12 win. It wasn’t a vintage performance by the Cowboys but they created enough opportunities for Thurston to work his magic and more importantly, it was a win on the road, something the North Queenslander’s struggled with last year. Note that during the week just gone, Thurston also officially announced that he’ll be staying with the Club until 2017.
Storm ($1.92)
Another game of footy, another win for the Melbourne Storm who, despite playing in temperatures of 33 degrees, displayed no side-affects of having recently come back from an English winter where they secured the World Club Championship. Early in the season, it always pays to forgive teams a little in their performance as they start the season and blow out the cobwebs but the Storm are as a professional side as there has ever been. They were clinical in the first half as they posted three unanswered tries against St. George Illawarra. The usual suspects were to the fore for the Storm with Slater scoring once and emerging talent Justin O’Neil crossing twice. It would appear that another successful season lay ahead yet again for the Melbourne boys.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Cowboys have one of the better records of any team in recent times against the Storm, having won two of the past three clashes. Their last encounter resulted in a four point win to the Cowboys (20 – 16). Given the strike power possessed by both side, it’s not surprising to note that four of the past five matches, the total points score has reached 40+, that includes two total match scores of 60 and 70.
Nth Queensland Cowboys $1.92 vs Melbourne Storm $1.92 at Sportsbet Australia
Nth Queensland Cowboys $1.86 vs Melbourne Storm $1.98 at Luxbet Australia
HAVING A PUNT
Game of the round and plenty of pluses for both sides but in early markets, it’s Melbourne Storm holding favouritism at $1.70, compared to the Cowboys $2.07 There’s enough to consider the Cowboys a legitimate proposition here. They have won two of the past three, Thurston’s announcement during the week coincides with the Club first home game of 2013 and Melbourne have to make a long trip again – will the travel of recent months take it’s toll? Off the back of last week’s performance in the hot conditions, were they vulnerable it would’ve been exposed, they were not. They are a professional outfit, always prepared and whilst the Cowboys were solid last week, they won’t get the chance to recover from mistakes against the Storm as they did against the Dogs.
STORM 1 – 12