2020 NRL – North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders taking place? Saturday 1st August, 2020 – 08:30 (UK)
Where is North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders taking place? Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
What is the expected weather for North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders? 21c, clear skies
What channel is North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders 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 North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders? 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 North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders? Click here for ticket information on 2020 NRL matches
THE TEAM NEWS
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Starting 13: Tabuai-Fidow, Feldt, O’Neill, Lemuelu, Taulagi, Dunn, Clifford, McLean, Robson, Molo, Wright, Hess, Taumalolo – Interchanges: Gilbert, Cooper, Asiata, Hampton – Reserves: Marsters, Granville
Unavailable: Michael Morgan (Injured), Valentine Homles (Injured), Scott Drinkwater (Injured), Peter Hola (Injured), Tom Opacic (Injured), Josh McGuire (Suspended), Daejarn Asi (Injured)
- North Queensland Cowboys lost for the fourth game in succession as they succumbed 12-24 to Manly Sea Eagles last week and the Cowboys look increasingly unlikely to miss out on the top eight on their current run of form.
- Despite making more metres than their opponents from fewer runs, the Cowboys were unable to utilise the ball and after crossing for just two tries, they brought their average points per game for the campaign down to 19.7.
- The Cowboys have now lost Josh McGuire to suspension while Daejarn Asi has also dropped out with injury so Mitch Dunn will line-up at a makeshift five-eighth but in better news, Jordan McLean and John Asiata look set to return from injury.
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Starting 13: Rapana, Valemei, Croker, Scott, Cotric, Wighton, G. Williams, Papalii, Havili, Lui, Bateman, Whitehead, Young– Interchanges: Starling, Tapine, Sutton, Harawira-Naera – Reserves:
S. Williams, Smith-Sheilds
Unavailable: Sebastian Kris (Illness), Corey Horsburgh (Injured), Sia Soliola (Injured), Emre Guler (Injured), Josh Hodgson (Injured), Bailey Simonsson (Injured), Michael Oldfield (Injured), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Injured)
- Canberra Raiders had to show some defensive grit in order to make it back-to-back successes as they held off South Sydney Rabbitohs last week with the top four back within touching distance for the Raiders.
- Canberra struggled to make metres in the wet conditions and despite making 14 errors, taking their total for the campaign to 129 which is the second-highest in the NRL, they were able to grind out narrow win by 18 points to 12.
- There is mixed news on the injury front for the Raiders in this one with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad out with a finger injury so Jordan Rapana reverts to fullback but Curtis Scott is back to line-up in the centres while John Bateman makes his eagerly anticipated return and Corey Harawira-Naera is set to make his Canberra debut from the bench.
THE PREDICTION
North Queensland Cowboys can ill-afford to have their losing streak extended to five matches if they are to have a chance of challenging for a spot in the finals but they face a tricky task against Canberra Raiders. The hosts have won just one of their last eight matches and with the Raiders coming into this on the back of consecutive wins, it will take a big effort for the Cowboys to improve on their poor run of form. The return of John Bateman is also likely to be crucial on both sides of the ball for Canberra and they should be able to win this one by at least six points.
