NRL Round 19 Preview and Prediction - South Sydney Rabbitohs v North Queensland Cowboys @ Barlow Park (Cairns)
South Sydney Rabbitohs v North Queensland Cowboys @ Barlow Park Cairns
Preview - The Cowboys will be looking to make it 3 wins in a row without Johnathan Thurston as they play an advantageous away game against the Rabbitohs at Barlow Park in Cairns on Sunday afternoon. When Thurston was ruled out for the season, many pundits immediately wrote off the Cowboys this season. However, they have responded with very impressive victories against both the Panthers and Raiders to catapult them to 6th spot requiring just another 3 wins to ensure themselves of a finals’ spot. The Rabbitohs blew a golden opportunity last week to close the gap on the sides in the Top 8 as they went down 14-12 to a Roosters’ side missing all their Origin players at Allianz Stadium. The loss leaves the Rabbitohs in 12th spot and requiring at least 6 victories from their final 8 games if they are to be any hope of sneaking into 8th position and winning an unlikely spot in the finals.
History - These sides met way back in Round 5 with the Cowboys running out pretty comfortable 20-6 winners in a game played in warm conditions. Last season, when the sides met in the corresponding fixture in Cairns, it was a comfortable win for the Cowboys again holding the Rabbitohs scoreless in a 20-0 triumph. Overall, Souths have won 2 from 4 in Cairns.
South Sydney Rabbitohs’ Scouting Report - The Rabbitohs have named the same 17 that went down narrowly to arch rivals, the Roosters, last week. Alex Johnson has revived his form this year and, with Dane Gagai joining next season and Greg Inglis due back, Souths will have plenty of strike power in their back line.
North Queensland Cowboys Scouting Report - North Queensland are fresh off a bye coming into the match and are helped by the fact this away game involved little travel. Origin trio Michael Morgan, Coen Hess and Gavin Cooper are all expected to back up for the Cowboys as they look to make a late run for a Top 4 position.
Verdict – Cowboys by 1-8 in a low scoring game
It’s hard to fall into the Bunnies again after what I thought was a really disappointing loss to a severely understrength Roosters side in a must win game for Souths last week. The fact they have given up a home game here to play the Cowboys in an arena where the Cowboys will enjoy the full support of the crowds, leads me to think the Cowboys should win this game. Put simply, even without Thurston, the Cowboys look to have a fraction more quality in their side than the Bunnies, and if Michael Morgan continues his outstanding form at halfback, I think he can lead them to a 4th straight win here. I expect this game to be quite physical and low scoring, with around 20 points needed to win the game.