Accor Stadium will play host to Sunday's Round 5 NRL game between Canterbury Bulldogs and North Queensland Cowboys. The game kicks off at 6:15 pm with North Queensland Cowboys heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Canterbury Bulldogs vs. North Queensland Cowboys game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Sunday April 2, 2023 at 6:15 pm
Where: Accor Stadium
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys Odds
Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys Preview
Round 5 closes with arguably the hardest game to call between 2-2 pair Canterbury and North Queensland.
The Bulldogs’ two-game winning run ended in Auckland, their lack of a genuine halves general exposed again in a spirited but frustrating 16-14 loss to the Warriors. Effort and enterprise are certainly not lacking, but polish and concentration is.
The Cowboys arrested a two-game slide with a 24-12 home victory over the Titans in Round 4. They finally shook their second-half woes, outscoring the visitors 18-0 after the break after scoring just seven points to 40 conceded in the second stanza across the first three rounds.
Tom Dearden and Valentine Holmes exploded after indifferent starts to the year, while the pack returned to form after being embarrassed by the Warriors.
The Cowboys have lost Jeremiah Nanai to suspension and James Tamou, Murray Tuilagi and Gehamat Shibasaki to injury. Peta Hiku returns from suspension and Brendan Elliot gets the nod on the wing, while Mitchell Dunn and debutant are new faces on the bench.
The Cowboys have won nine of their last 12 against the Bulldogs. After a dour 6-4 Bulldogs win in Round 1 in Townsville last year, the Cowboys chalked up a 28-14 late-season victory in Bundaberg.
North Queensland’s list of absentees – which still includes fullback Scott Drinkwater – is the big worry ahead of this road trip. Canterbury is a slight favourite but hasn’t shown enough killer instinct or 80-minute consistency to back with a great deal of confidence.
Content provided by Ladbrokes
Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys Tip
We're tipping North Queensland Cowboys to win at $2.00 odds.
Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys Teams
Bulldogs team: 1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Ryan Sutton 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 14. Josh Reynolds 15. Corey Waddell 16. Franklin Pele 17. Jayden Okunbor 19. Jackson Topine 20. Kurtis Morrin 21. Karl Oloapu 22. Braidon Burns 23. Jayden Tanner
Cowboys team: 1. Tomas Chester 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Brendan Elliot 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. Coen Hess 12. Heilum Luki 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Jake Granville 15. Mitchell Dunn 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Riley Price 18. Zac Laybutt 19. Taniela Sadrugu 20. Jack Gosiewski 21. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 22. Ben Hampton