2021 NRL – North Queensland Cowboys vs Sydney Roosters Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is North Queensland Cowboys vs Sydney Roosters taking place? Saturday 17th July, 2021 – 06:00 (UK)
Where is North Queensland Cowboys vs Sydney Roosters taking place? Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Where can I get tickets for North Queensland Cowboys vs Sydney Roosters? Click here for ticket information on 2021 NRL matches
What channel is North Queensland Cowboys vs Sydney Roosters 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 Sydney Roosters? 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
THE TEAM NEWS
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Starting 13: Bowen, Feldt, Tabuai-Fidow, Lemuelu, Taulagi, Drinkwater, Dearden, Molo, Robson, McLean, Wright, Dunn, Taumalolo – Interchanges: Granville, Gilbert, Hess, Hola – Reserves: Burr, Condon, Asi
Unavailable: Reuben Cotter (Injured), Ben Hampton (Injured), Heilum Luki (Suspended), Valentine Holmes (Injured)
- North Queensland Cowboys’ hopes of making the finals suffered another blow as they went down to defeat for the fourth time in succession last week with South Sydney Rabbitohs getting the better of them.
- On the back of a nilling against Newcastle Knights, the Cowboys did at least manage to get across the line in that contest but they were nowhere near good enough and succumbed to defeat having conceded 46 points with their defensive efforts coming into question once again.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Starting 13: Manu, Tupou, J. Morris, Smith, Ikuvalu, Hutchison, Walker, Waerea-Hargreaves, Verrills, Liu, Crichton, Tupouniua, Radley – Interchanges: Lam, N. Butcher, E. Butcher, Baker – Reserves: Thomas, Keighran
Unavailable: Luke Keary (Injured), Lindsay Collins (Injured), Joseph Suaalii (Injured), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Injured), James Tedesco (Rested)
- Sydney Roosters got back to winning ways after suffering back-to-back losses but it was far from pretty as they stuttered their way to victory over bottom side Canterbury Bulldogs last week.
- The absence of James Tedesco was telling and he will again be absent once again as he is rested following his Origin appearance on Wednesday night so Joey Manu will once again deputise at fullback as the Tricolours go in search of a third straight win over North Queensland Cowboys.
THE PREDICTION
North Queensland Cowboys desperately need to arrest their slide down the ladder having fallen to 12th
spot thanks to four straight losses. The top eight is beginning to look
difficult for them to break into and their task could be even trickier
if they suffer a fifth defeat in succession. They face Sydney Roosters
in who come into this on the back of a win, although it was far from a
vintage display. The Roosters continue to miss some key players and that
could have an impact on their efforts with ball in hand but they should
still have enough to come out on top against the Cowboys’ porous
defence.
