The Cowboys and Raiders meet in Townsville with both coaches hoping to kick off the season on a winning note for their new clubs.
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.
All bar one of the last five games between the two sides have resulted in total match scores of over 40 points.
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)
Source:
http://www.sportsnews.com.au/nrl/nth-queensland-cowboys-vs-canberra-raiders-2014-nrl-round-1-preview-and-tips/102886#ixzz2vLV9Y3MJ
Topic: Raiders vs Cowboys Preview
