Friday’s NRL 2018 Round 15 match is between Nth Queensland Cowboys and New Zealand Warriors. The opening kick is set to commence at 18:00 local time with the game to be played at 1300SMILES Stadium, Townsville. The home team Nth Queensland Cowboys are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Nth Queensland Cowboys and New Zealand Warriors.
When: 18:00 | Friday 15/06/2018
Where: 1300SMILES Stadium, Townsville
Preview:
Mathematically, the Cowboys are still a chance of making the finals and while I’ll never write off a Queensland team, but I’ll say this game is their last roll of the dice.
A loss will spell curtains for the boys from the north.
I’m still puzzled as to why they’re constantly playing the same style of game play, which clearly isn’t working.
Everything comes from the 7 and it’s either a block runner or it’s play short to a lead.
Too predictable in the modern game.
Teams are too smart and skilled to not see this coming.
Michael Morgan will return for the Cows but where he plays is anyone’s decision.
For me he needs to be up in the front line so halfback is where I would put him.
Coote is their best option at the back with Morgan and Johnathan Thurston the halves.
The one positive for the Cows is the visitors have a long travel ahead but I feel they are well equipped to accommodate this.
The Warriors will get back their skipper RTS back after missing last week’s dominant display.
KEY BATTLE: Jonathan Thurston v Shaun Johnson
Regardless of how his team is going I know JT will give absolutely every last inch of himself to the team.
For Johnson however I have really been impressed with his growth in his game.
He seems to have a much better-balanced style about him.
Unibet Odds:
North Queensland at $2.12
New Zealand at $1.73
Odds:
Tip: Nth Queensland Cowboys at $2.00
Value Tip: First Try Scorer: Kyle Feldt at $12.00
More Info:
Teams:
Nth Queensland Cowboys:
1 Michael Morgan, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Kane Linnett, 4 Enari Tuala, 5 Javid Bowen, 6 Te Maire Martin, 7 Johnathan Thurston (c), 8 Matthew Scott (c), 9 Jake Granville, 10 Scott Bolton, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Coen Hess, 13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14 Ben Hampton, 15 Shaun Fensom, 16 Corey Jensen, 17 Sam Hoare
Reserves: 18 Justin O’Neill, 19 Ethan Lowe, 20 Mitchell Dunn, 21 Francis Molo.
New Zealand Warriors: 
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 David Fusitu’a, 3 Peta Hiku, 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Ken Maumalo, 6 Blake Green, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 James Gavet, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Agnatius Paasi, 11 Isaiah Papali’i, 12 Tohu Harris, 13 Adam Blair
Interchange: 14 Karl Lawton, 15 Chris Satae, 16 Bunty Afoa, 17 Simon Mannering
Reserves: 18 Gerard Beale, 19 Mason Lino, 20 Liligiifo Sao, 21 Anthony Gelling.
NRL News:
Gavin Cooper knows that cutting out the “under-nine errors” will help North Queensland turn around their NRL season but says it’s not as simple as it sounds.
The Cowboys (4-10) sit in unfamiliar territory, needing at least nine wins from their remaining 10 games to be any chance of playing finals.
Basic errors have haunted them, never more than in Darwin on the weekend when knock-ons stunted their momentum and handed Parramatta the points.
Cooper said that loss, combined with Queensland’s defeat in the State of Origin opener earlier in the week, had made for a tough few days.
“It has been a big couple of weeks, big emotionally as well, stepping into Origin and forgetting what’s been going on here, with the tough times we’ve been having,” he said.
Cooper was afforded a day off training duties on Tuesday and, while watching on, said he was impressed with what he saw.
But attitude and effort at training haven’t been the issue this season, with something just not clicking on game day.
“Our weeks have been like that at training and it gets to games and a few fundamental errors creep in and we’re chasing our tails again,” he said.
“It’s a mental thing now, been happening for too long.
“Simple under-nines errors and stuff like that – it’s frustrating.”
The Cowboys face the in-form Warriors on Friday night, fresh off a 34-14 mauling of Manly.
“They’re playing some good footy and will continue to if we keep giving them the ball,” he said.
“They were pretty clinical (against Manly) … if we turn it over like we have been, they’ll put a cricket score on us.”
