NRL Round 13 Preview and Prediction - North Queensland Cowboys v Gold Coast Titans @ 1300 Smiles Stadium

 North Queensland Cowboys V Gold Coast Titans @ 1300 Smiles Stadium

Preview - We get another Queensland derby here as the Cowboys and Titans collide for the second time this season, this time at 1300 Smiles Stadium. The Cowboys are fresh off a bye having coughed up a 14-point half time lead in their last start 18-14 loss to the Sharks at Shark Park. Despite the loss, the Cowboys were brave without Johnathan Thurston and have done well to get 6 wins from 11 games despite an at times alarming injury count to some of their senior players. The Titans will have been embarrassed by their last start 30-10 loss to the Sea Eagles at home just as they looked like they were finally building some momentum. The crushing loss pumped the brakes on a 3-game winning streak with the Titans still wallowing in 12th spot, 2 games outside the Top 8. 

History - Earlier this season, when the sides clashed in Round 4 on the Gold Coast, the Cowboys won a highly entertaining game 32-26. The Titans have struggled in Townsville though without a win there since 2012. Interestingly, this is the first time in 5 years the sides have clashed on two occasions. Overall, the Cowboys have won 10 clashes to the Titans 8. 

Gold Coast Titans' Scouting Report - The Titans will be sweating on the fitness of Jarryd Hayne and Nathan Peats after they both had outstanding games in Origin 1. Jarrod Wallace will be looking for another strong performance in the front row as he looks to push his cause for selection in Origin 2 after the Queensland forwards were dominated at Suncorp Stadium in their heavy defeat on Wednesday night.

North Queensland Cowboys' Scouting Report - For the fist time in several years the Cowboys have no forwards backing up from Origin, meaning they are fresh and ready to rip in here in this Queensland derby. Michael Morgan has stepped up in the past two games and has started to recapture some of the form he displayed in the past couple of seasons. With Jake Granville and Lachlan Coote both fit and available, the Cowboys have a spine capable of still causing some problems for opponents without Johnathan Thurston. 

Verdict - Cowboys 1-6 in a high scoring game

I was tempted to tip a big upset here and the Titans to bounce back from that horror performance against the Sea Eagles. However the loss of Nathan Peats is a huge one for mine that they will struggle to overcome. I still think this game will be a lot closer than people expect and will go right down to the wire.   I expect Jarryd Hayne, backing up from his great Origin performance, to have a big game here. However it remains to be seen how much he can influence a game from the centres. I'm expecting this Cowboys'  pack to come out breathing fire given they have had a week off and coming off a loss. I think this game could be vey similar to the first time these sides clashed with it being close and high scoring throughout. I think both these sides can score 20+ but I just think the Cowboys have a little bit more class at home and can get their 7th win of the season.