2020 NRL – Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys taking place? Thursday 19th March, 2020 – 09:05
Where is Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys taking place? ANZ Stadium, Sydney
What is the expected weather for Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys? 22c in clear skies
What channel is Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys on? Sky Sports Arena will be televising selected NRL games in the UK and you can find their schedule here. For Australian broadcasters, you can find a list here
Where can I stream Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go. Alternatively, the match will be available to subscribers of Watch NRL
Where can I get tickets for Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys? Click here for ticket information on 2020 NRL matches
THE TEAM NEWS
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Starting 13: Watene-Zelezniak, Meaney, R. Smith, Hopoate, Crichton, Wakeham, Lewis, Tolman, Marshall-King, Napa, Jackson, Stimson, Elliott – Interchanges: Britt, To’omaga, Faitala-Mariner, Averillo – Reserves: Ogden, Katoa
Unavailable: Kieran Foran (Injured), Chris Smith (Injured), Marcelo Montoya (Injured), Corey Harawira-Naera (Disciplinary), Jayden Okunbor (Disciplinary), Kerrod Holland (Injured)
- Canterbury were undone by a plucky try as they were narrowly defeated by Parramatta in a low-scoring contest in last week's season opener and they will hope that their first home game of the year can yield more success.
- The Bulldogs will be without Kerrod Holland after he picked up a knee injury and he will be replaced by debutant Jake Averillo who comes onto the bench in the only change to the 17 from last week’s game.
- Jack Cogger would have been hoping to force his way into the reckoning this week but he has missed out for the second straight game after he was omitted from the list of reserves 24 hours out from kick-off with Lachlan Lewis and Brandon Wakeham the preferred halves pairing once again.
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Starting 13: Holmes, Feldt, O’Neill, Marsters, Hampton, Drinkwater, Morgan, McGuire, Granville, McLean, Cooper, Hess, Taumalolo – Interchanges: Robson, Asiata, Dunn, Molo – Reserves: Jensen, Clifford
Unavailable:
- North Queensland could not mark the opening of their new stadium with a win as they lost against Brisbane despite a late fightback and they will hope to build on that as they face Canterbury in round 2.
- The Cowboys will be able to call upon Josh McGuire for the first time this season after the prop sat out last week due to suspension and he comes straight into the starting XIII with John Asiata dropping to the bench.
- Corey Jensen was a late inclusion on the bench last week but he has been unable to retain his place and despite hoping to come back into contention due to a head knock suffered by Justin O’Neill last week, the centre is expected to come through the HIA protocols to take his place in the side.
THE PREDICTION
Both Canterbury and North Queensland were on the end of defeats in their opening matches of the NRL season last weekend and will be eager to earn their first win here. The Bulldogs defended well against Parramatta and can do the same again here against a Cowboys outfit that only came to life late in their game with Brisbane and with defences likely to be on top, this should be a low-scoring game that goes under 37.5 points.
