North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm – Regular Season – Preview & Prediction | NRL 2023

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THE FACTS

When is North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm on and what time does it start? North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm will take place on Sunday 4th June, 2023 – 07:05 (UK)

Where is North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm taking place? North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm will take place at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, Australia

Where can I get tickets for North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm? Click here for ticket information on 2023 NRL matches

What channel is North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm 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 Melbourne Storm? 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

• North Queensland Cowboys produced a superb response to their humiliating loss to Wests Tigers as their under-strength side pushed Parramatta Eels all the way last week.
• Missing four players to State of Origin call-ups, the Cowboys were much better defensively in that contest and stuck in the game until the dying stages and they are now boosted by the return of that quartet, although only Tom Dearden has been listed to make the 17 at the point the teams were announced.

Starting 13: Drinkwater, Feldt, Laybutt, Hiku, Valemei, Dearden, Townsend, McLean, Robson, Hess, Leilua, Luki, Granville – Interchanges: Gosiewski, Nanai, Taunoa-Brown, Neame – Reserves: Finefeuiaki, Elliot, Taumalolo, Hampton, Holmes, Cotter, Taulagi

Unavailable: James Tamou (Injured), Tom Chester (Injured)

MELBOURNE STORM

• Melbourne Storm secured a second win in succession as they got the better of the Dolphins in their most recent encounter and they will be confident of making it three-in-a-row.
• The Storm are still not performing at their best but have shown glimpses of what they can do of late and it is little surprise that they will retain the same 17 for this contest with Harry Grant and Cameron Munster set to back-up after Origin.

Starting 13: Meaney, Warbrick, Smith, Olam, Coates, Munster, Hughes, Asofa-Solomona, H. Grant, Welch, Loiero, Katoa, King – Interchanges: Garlick, Pene, Kamikamica, Anderson – Reserves: Wishart, Seve, Eisenhuth, Sims, Bradley

Unavailable: Dean Ieremia (Injured), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Injured), Alec MacDonald (Injured), Jonah Pezet (Injured), George Jennings (Injured), Jack Howarth (Injured)

THE PREDICTION

It has been a woeful season for North Queensland Cowboys and things could worsen for them here as they take on Melbourne Storm. The home side have won just five games to date with all of those occurring in Queensland so there is at least some hope for them here. On the other hand, the Storm start the weekend inside the top four and will be out to make it three successive victories. Craig Bellamy’s side possess an excellent record against the Cowboys having won 12 of their past 13 matchups and that stat makes it hard to side with the struggling Cowboys.