Queensland Country Bank Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 9 NRL game between North Queensland Cowboys and Dolphins. The game kicks off at 7:35 pm with North Queensland Cowboys heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the North Queensland Cowboys vs. Dolphins game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Saturday May 4, 2024 at 7:35 pm
Where: Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE
North Queensland Cowboys vs Dolphins Odds
North Queensland Cowboys vs Dolphins Preview
North Queensland Cowboys and the Dolphins square off for the second time in 2024, with Wayne Bennetts side eager to reverse a dismal 43-18 result at Suncorp Stadium in Round 1.
Both sides have had their ups and downs since. The Cowboys hot 4-1 start has given way to three straight losses, but backing up a horrific 42-6 loss at Cronulla with a gutsy 26-20 home defeat to Penrith after trailing by 20 temporarily helped to allay flat-track bully allegations.
The 4-3 Dolphins are yet to lose consecutive games in 2024 and were fizzing after a short-handed line-up smacked Parramatta 44-16 in Darwin which made an 18-14 home loss to a Newcastle side reeling from Kalyn Pongas injury so hard to accept.
The Dolphins were out-enthused by the Knights and two of their three tries came inside the last five minutes.
Cowboys back-rower Heilum Luki returns from a seven-week layoff, pushing Jake Granville out of the Cowboys 17.
Ex-Warrior Viliami Vailea gets his chance in the centres following Tom Chesters hamstring injury.
Felise Kaufusi and Connelly Lemuelu bolster the Dolphins pack this week, replacing Kenny Bromwich (head knock) and the omitted Oryn Keeley.
The Dolphins carved out a 32-22 win in Townsville in Round 6 last year, before losing to the Cowboys twice in the space of three rounds in Brisbane Round 26 of 2023 and their season opener this year.
North Queenslands attack ranks along with the best in the league to date, but they have conceded the second-most points in the NRL and the adventurous Dolphins have a proclivity for embarrassing defences that dont turn up with the right attitude.
There was enough in last weeks showing against the Panthers to get behind the Cowboys at home in this one, but the Dolphins are more than capable and look the value option against the line.
Content provided by Ladbrokes
North Queensland Cowboys vs Dolphins Tip
We're tipping North Queensland Cowboys to win at $1.42 odds.
North Queensland Cowboys vs Dolphins Teams
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Semi Valemei 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Heilum Luki 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Jason Taumalolo 18. Jake Granville 19. Jake Clifford 20. Harrison Edwards 21. Jamal Shibasaki 22. Jaxon Purdue
Dolphins team: 1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Tesi Niu 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Euan Aitken 13. Max Plath 14. Josh Kerr 15. Kurt Donoghoe 16. Ray Stone 17. Connelly Lemuelu 18. Oryn Keeley 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Jarrod Wallace 21. Edrick Lee 22. Mason Teague
