Phil Gould previews the NRL season
Phil Gould discusses what we can expect from the season openers and also tackles the contentious issue of concussion.
PT7M16S http://ift.tt/NqrEnZ 620 349 March 4, 2014
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1300 Smiles Stadium, Townsville, Saturday March 8, 9pm (AEDT)
Last meeting: Raiders 26 bt Cowboys 18 at Canberra Stadium, round 17, 2013
Head-to-head: Raiders 19, Cowboys 13
Referees: Gavin Badger, Brett Suttor
TV: Live, FoxSports 1
TAB Sportsbet: Cowboys $1.30 Raiders $2.50
FootyTab: Raiders +8.5
Michael Chammas writes: New coaches Paul Green and Ricky Stuart, both former halfbacks, have been tasked with similar assignments: trying to help an underachieving football team reach its potential. However, with Johnathan Thurston in the Cowboys side, their potential is far greater. Canberra are traditionally slow starters and that should continue in Townsville this weekend.
Tip: Cowboys by 16
AAP writes: Surely the Cowboys will play to their potential this year? Surely? We have all asked that question for a few seasons and it really is now or never for them. Coach Paul Green could bring a vital edge after an impressive apprenticeship and their Auckland Nines win will give them plenty of confidence heading into the season proper. Canberra were a big disappointment last season too and much has been invested in three-time Raiders premiership winner Ricky Stuart to do that. His coaching legacy could well rest on what he does in Canberra. On paper the Cowboys look far too good. They could open the season with a big win here.
Key: The Auckland Nines. Stuart paid lipservice to the shortform event insisting his preparation was solely focused on round one. The Cowboys took the opposite approach and despite losing Lachlan Coote (ACL-season) they won the inaugural event. Which will prove to be the better preparation?
COWBOYS: Michael Morgan, Kyle Feldt, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Robert Lui, Matt Scott (capt), Ray Thompson, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Jason Taumalolo, Joel Riethmuller. Interchange: Rory Kostjasyn, Tariq Sims, Glenn Hall, Scott Bolton, Ashton Sims, Zac Santo (two to be omitted)
RAIDERS: Anthony Milford, Reece Robinson, Jarrod Croker, Matt Allwood, Edrick Lee, Jack Wighton, Terry Campese (capt), Dane Tilse, Glen Buttriss, Brett White, Josh Papalii, Joel Edwards, Shaun Fensom. Interchange: Josh McCrone, Jarrad Kennedy, Paul Vaughan, Shannon Boyd, Mark Nicholls (one to be omitted).
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