2020 NRL – Newcastle Knights vs North Queensland Cowboys Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Newcastle Knights vs North Queensland Cowboys taking place? Sunday 23rd August, 2020 – 07:05 (UK)
Where is Newcastle Knights vs North Queensland Cowboys taking place? McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
What is the expected weather for Newcastle Knights vs North Queensland Cowboys? 15c, sunny
What channel is Newcastle Knights 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 Newcastle Knights 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 Newcastle Knights vs North Queensland Cowboys? Click here for ticket information on 2020 NRL matches
THE TEAM NEWS
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Starting 13: Ponga, To’a, Tuala, Shibasaki, Hunt, Green, Pearce, Klemmer, Mann, J. Saifiti, Fitzgibbon, Guerra, Barnett – Interchanges: Crossland, Ese’ese, King, Saulo – Reserves: Jones, Hoy
Unavailable: Jayden Brailey (Injured), Tim Glasby (Injured), Edrick Lee (Injured), Andrew McCullough (Injured), Connor Watson (Injured), Sione Mata’utia (Injured), Bradman Best (Injured), Daniel Saifiti (Injured)
- Newcastle Knights got off to a poor start in their key game with Manly Sea Eagles last week but they responded well and were able to earn an important two points in a topsy-turvy game.
- Manly raced into a 0-12 lead but Newcastle hit back with 20 unanswered points, although the Sea Eagles found a way to retake the lead until the closing stages of the contest when Enari Tuala’s converted try snatched a 26-24 victory.
- That win has opened up a five-point gap over the teams in ninth place and below and another win here would all but confirm their spot in the finals but they will be without Daniel Saifiti after the prop suffered another knee injury on his return last week so Pasami Saulo returns following a ban.
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Starting 13: Drinkwater, Feldt, Opacic, O’Neill, Tabuai-Fidow, Hampton, Morgan, McGuire, Cotter, McLean, Dunn, Hess, Taumalolo – Interchanges: Asiata, Molo, Jensen, Granville – Reserves: Wright, Clifford
Unavailable: Valentine Holmes (Injured), Peter Hola (Injured), Daejarn Asi (Injured), Murray Taulagi (Injured), Connelly Lemuelu (Injured), Emry Pere (Injured), Reece Robson (Injured)
- North Queensland Cowboys blew the chance of ending their losing streak as they capitulated in the final few minutes of their clash with South Sydney Rabbitohs last week to make it seven defeats in a row.
- In a game where the lead changed hands on several occasions, the Cowboys looked to have done enough for the win as they led by two in the closing stages but they conceded a needless penalty to allow the Rabbitohs to level before their opponents rolled up the field and kicked a last-gasp field goal.
- To rub salt into the wounds for the Cowboys, they must now deal without injured trio Reece Robson, Emry Pere and Connelly Lemuelu with Reuben Cotter, Corey Jensen and Justin O’Neill coming into the 17.
THE PREDICTION
Newcastle Knights made hard work of their win over Manly Sea Eagles last week but did just enough to almost certainly seal their spot in the top eight. They can move a step closer with a win over North Queensland Cowboys here and the Knights are well-fancied to do so against a side that have lost their last seven matches. Newcastle have shown they can be a real threat with the ball in recent games and will hope that continues here with a home win expected but the Cowboys also have little trouble in the scoring department so expect a game that produces at least 44 points.
