Friday has two NRL matches with the second game for Round 9 is between Nth Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos with the opening kick to commence at 7.30pm. The game is to be played at 1300SMILES Stadium with the favourite for the match being Brisbane Broncos. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Nth Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos.
WHERE AND WHEN: 1300SMILES Stadium, Friday 7.30pm
Odds Comparison:
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| Nth Queensland Cowboys | 1.80 | 1.83 | 1.77 | 1.83 | 1.80 | 1.83 |
| Brisbane Broncos | 2.06 | 2.00 | 2.08 | 2.00 | 2.06 | 2.00 |
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
Preview:
Parramatta felt the full force of the Cowboys side who were keen to right the wrongs of a controversially loss against Manly in round 7, and were defeated by a resounding 42 – 14.
The Cowboys, who took their home record to 3 – 1 this year with the win, were scoring at a point a minute in the early stages of the game and raced to an 18 – nil lead.
Whilst their attack was in full swing, a poor defensive period ten minutes before half-time, allowed Parramatta to reduce the margin to 18 – 12 at the break.
A double to Kane Linnett in the first minutes of the second half had the Cowboys back on track and two more in the 64 and 69th minutes, blew the margin right out and demonstrated just how potent the Cowboys attack can be when on song.
As they did last year, the Cowboys have taken their time finding their best form this season but the efforts of the past fortnight would suggest they are rapidly closing in on hitting top gear.
The Broncos suffered another heart-breaking loss in front of a home crowd last week when defeated by South Sydney in the final moments of the game, 28 – 26.
It was the Broncos third straight defeat at home, all by margins of 7 points or less, and sees their record this year now at 4 – 4. With the always trying State Of Origin period closing in for the Broncos, they’ll need to start winning a few of these close ones.
The Broncos were on the back-foot early 14 – 0 but started mounting a fantastic come-back in the 26th minute with Dale Copley scored off a Greg Inglis mistake. Two more Bronco tries in the next ten minutes had the home-side back in the contest and remarkably, in front 16 – 14 at the break.
Two tries each in the second half had the scored tied up but a controversial penalty to Souths gave them the opportunity to break the deadlock which they did successfully.
It was the third loss in the past month for the Broncos but in each of those defeats (the others to Parramatta and Titans); the Brisbane side hasn’t done a great deal wrong and were games they could have easily won.
Brisbane head to Townsville this week having had won each of the past three encounters between the two sides, by margins of 2, 4 and 6 points.
Expect another close one here but with some injuries clouds over some of the Broncos and an improving Cowboys outfit playing in front of a home-crowd, expect them to get the job done but only just.
Teams:
Nth Queensland Cowboys:
Michael Morgan, Matthew Wright, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Curtis Rona, Johnathan Thurston, Ray Thompson, Matthew Scott, Rory Kostjasyn, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Jason Taumalolo, Tariq Sims. Interchange: Cameron King, Glenn Hall, Ashton Sims, Scott Bolton
Ins: Gavin Cooper, Cameron King
Outs: Joel Reithmuller, Anthony Mitchell (both dropped)
Other unavailables: Antonio Winterstein (hamstring, round 10), Lachlan Coote (ACL, season), Hezron Murgha (knee, round 10), Patrick Kaufusi (pectoral, season)
Brisbane Broncos:
Gavin Cooper (knee) returns at the expense of Joel Reithmuller. Hooker Cameron King will make his club debut on the bench, with Anthony Mitchell dropping out. There are doubts over Ray Thompson (knee) and Tariq Sims (ankle). Curtis Rona is a must-have cheapie for this week.
Broncos: Ben Barba, Daniel Vidot, Jack Reed, Justin Hodges, Dale Copley, Josh Hoffman, Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire, Andrew McCullough, Martin Kennedy, Alex Glenn, Corey Parker, Matt Gillett. Interchange: David Hala, Jarrod Wallace, Jake Granville, Corey Oates, Todd Lowrie
Ins: Josh Hoffman, David Hala, Todd Lowrie
Outs: Lachlan Maranta, Ben Hannant (both dropped)
Other unavailables: Sam Thaiday (calf, round 10), Mitchell Dodds (knee, season), Ashley Taylor (shoulder, round 18)g
News:
Rift? What rift?
Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin claims he’s surprised to hear talk of bad blood between him and Ben Hannant and expects the dumped ex-Test prop to see out his 2014 NRL contract.
Asked whether he would release Hannant if the reportedly disgruntled, off-contract forward asked, Griffin said on Thursday: “No. Why would he do that?”
On paper there appear to be a few reasons.
Hannant, 29, averages 103m and 27 tackles a match and notched a season-high 159m in Brisbane’s last game against South Sydney – all coming off the bench.
Yet Griffin has preferred Sydney Roosters recruit Martin Kennedy who averages 71m and 23 tackles a match, making him the least productive Brisbane prop.
Hannant – who played in five straight State of Origin series wins for Queensland until 2012 – was even pipped for a bench spot this week by fringe forward David Hala.
What made the call more surprising was that Brisbane – already without Test backrower Sam Thaiday (calf) – will on Friday take on North Queensland, who boast what Griffin admits is arguably the NRL’s best pack.
It only seemed to add to speculation that Hannant – one of the highest-paid Broncos at around $500,000 – could seek a release and not see out his contract.
But at an awkward press conference, Griffin insisted Hannant’s dumping was performance-based.
“It was a very tough call,” Griffin said.
“I haven’t heard the rift rumours.
“He was alright (when dumped), same as Todd Lowrie would have taken it a few weeks ago, like any player.
“I made a call. Ben knows what I want him to improve on and understands where I am coming from. We have been black and white about it.
“It’s not a major issue.”
Asked if Hannant had a future at the Broncos, Griffin said: “I think so, like any other player.
“He’s been here a while and done a good job for us.”
When pressed on his Hannant call, Griffin said: “I care about all of our players.
“Sometimes telling them what they don’t want to hear is the way to help them the most.
“But what I say to a player about selection is between me and the player.
“It is not a turkey shoot. I am trying to get the guy to improve his football and I am here to help him.”
Griffin admitted a big challenge awaited Kennedy against a Cowboys pack boasting the Test front row of Matt Scott and James Tamou.
“He (Kennedy) has been like us, he’s not been at his best every week,” he said.
“He’s got an opportunity to do a job for us tomorrow night so we will see what happens.”