The last of NRL Round 18 match is between Nth Queensland Cowboys and Manly Sea Eagles. The opening kick is set to commence at 7:00pm local time with the game to be played at 1300SMILES Stadium. The away team the Manly Sea Eagles are the current favourites in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between Nth Queensland Cowboys and Manly Sea Eagles.

1300SMILES Stadium

Monday 7.00pm

Nth Queensland Cowboys $3.05 vs Cronulla Sharks $1.38 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

Nth Queensland Cowboys $3.10 vs Cronulla Sharks $1.38 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by NRL Odds:

Nth Queensland Cowboys	3.05	2.95	3.10	2.90	3.05	3.07
Manly Sea Eagles	1.38	1.42	1.38	1.42	1.38	1.39

Preview:

Manly play yet another Monday night game but this time, travel to Townsville to take on the Cowboys.

After losing five on the trot, the home-side recorded a much needed win against St. George in Round 14, had the Bye the following week but made consecutive wins for only the second time this year when beating Cronulla at home in Round 16 24 – 4.

Last week they had the unenviable task of travelling to Canberra and at half time were trailing 18 – 0 before being beaten 26 – 18.

They were not the first team to lose at Canberra Stadium this year and are a better side when playing at home.

Of course they’ll be without Jonathon Thurston, Brent Tate and Matt Scott which will not make their task an easy one, especially given that Manly have won the last four clashes between the two sides, three of them in convincing fashion.

Speaking of convincing fashion Manly, who hadn’t won a game since Round 11, handed Parramatta a 50 – 10 point hiding last Monday night.

It was the hit-out Manly needed at this time and allowed Kieran Foran and Brett Stewart, both recently returning from injury the opportunity to play themselves back into form.

They miss Watmough and Cherry-Evans to Origin but still name a very strong side.

Foran, whose organisational skills was sorely missed in Manly’s loss to the Roosters in Round 16, is the driving force in this side and he’ll create plenty of headaches for the Cowboys who’ll struggle to contain Manly.

Teams:

Nth Queensland Cowboys:
Clint Greenshields, Ashley Graham, Antonio Winterstein, Kane Linnett, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Ray Thompson, Robert Lui, Ricky Thorby, Anthony Mitchell, Glenn Hall, Ethan Lowe, Jason Taumalolo, Joel Riethmuller. Interchange: Rory Kostjasyn, Gavin Cooper, Tariq Sims, Scott Bolton, Michael Morgan

Manly Sea Eagles:
Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua, Jamie Lyon (c), Steve Matai, David Williams, Kieran Foran, Peta Hiku, Brenton Lawrence, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Jamie Buhrer, Justin Horo, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: Richie Fa’aoso, George Rose, James Hasson, Ligi Sao

Unheralded Cowboy relishing NRL chance

Hooker Anthony Mitchell says he’s relishing the chance of taking on a NRL starting role for North Queensland against Manly on Monday night.

In a bid to halt a run of six losses from their past eight matches, Cowboys coach Neil Henry named Mitchell as part of an entirely new forward pack to take on the Sea Eagles.

Joining the former Sydney Rooster and Parramatta rake will be Jason Taumalolo, Glenn Hall, Joel Riethmuller, Ethan Lowe and Ricky Thorby as Henry searches for a way to salvage North Queensland’s dismal campaign.

It’s an ominous task for the 24-year-old, especially after Manly’s 50-10 hammering of the Eels last time out and with Cowboys stars Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Brent Tate and James Tamou all away on State of Origin duty.

But Mitchell believes taking on the best is what first-grade football is all about.

“We’re going to have to roll our sleeves up this week,” Mitchell said on Wednesday.

“Manly played really well on Monday night.

“NRL’s where you want to be and against the best teams. Hopefully we can band together and get a win against a quality side.”

Back-rower Lowe, who will be making his first NRL start after debuting off the bench against Gold Coast earlier in the year, said the Sea Eagles’ ability to rack up points will be a major point of discussion throughout the week.

“We’ve just got to try shutting down their attack,” Lowe said.

“They’re a very good attacking side and hopefully we can just shut that down.”