Cowboys V Storm Preview
NRL
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Cowboys v Storm
Dairy Farmers Stadium
Saturday 7.30pm
A FEW weeks ago this clash looked set to bring a repeat of last years Dairy Farmers debacle between the sides a landslide Melbourne win.
However, after opening the year with three losses the Cowboys have now won three straight and have given the locals faith they can knock off the competition favourites and reigning premiers.
The Storm sit third on the ladder and the Cowboys 10th but only two competition points separate the clubs; a win for the Cowboys could well see them climb into the top eight for the first time this season.
If they are to pull off a victory the Cowboys will have to do it without Luke ODonnell who has succumbed to a hip injury. Jacob Lillyman moves from the second row to lock and Sam Faust comes into the side to start. Both Scott Bolton and Anthony Watts have been added to the bench which at this stage boasts five men.
The Storm also have changes from the side that came back from the dead against Canberra on Monday night.
They welcome prop Brett White back from suspension, which sends Antonio Kaufusi to the bench, while Jeremy Smith has been named to start with Michael Crocker on the bench. Sika Manu is out while Clifford Manua and Sam Tagataese have been named on a six-man bench.
The battle between the fullbacks in this clash is worth the price of admission itself.
Watch out Cowboys
Storm fullback Billy Slater is seriously on fire. With test selection coming Sunday, Slater has one more chance to press his seemingly irresistible claims and to avoid giving selectors an excuse to stay with incumbent Brett Stewart. Slater now averages 148 metres a game, has nine line breaks, four line-break assists, three try assists and seven tries of his own in the opening six rounds of football.
Watch out Storm: Cowboys custodian Matt Bowen returned from injury last weekend and was back in the form we have all come to know and love. After spending the opening weeks in some sort of daydream Bowen finally fired against the Warriors and scored three tries.
He now has three try-assists and four line-break assists as well as the lone line break. Considering the Storms long kick accuracy is the fourth worst in the NRL at just 50 per cent, this game shapes as one where Bowen could get plenty of ball and have plenty of time to exploit any holes. The Melbourne kick-chase better be on song.
Where it will be won: This contest could come down to the simple factor of who performs better when diffusing cross-field kicks. Both sides are terrible at diffusing the cross kick; the Cowboys have only successfully negotiated 25 per cent and the Storm are barely better at 27 per cent.
With Storm centre Israel Folau one of the best leapers in the business, the Cowboys could be under the pump all night but Cowboys half Johnathan Thurston can land a cross-field bomb on a five cent piece so expect the barrage to go both ways.
Both sides need to scramble back and protect the wingers / centres on every occasion.
The History: Played 16; Cowboys 5, Storm 11. The visitors hold a 6-3 advantage on the Cowboys turf and last years clash at the venue provided the North Queenslanders with their largest loss ever at Dairy Farmers Stadium; a 58-12 thumping.
Conclusion
The Storm are a clinical outfit that know how to win big games but the Raiders showed they can be vulnerable if you play disciplined football, cut down mistakes and defend tight.
Sadly, the Cowboys arent known for their defence so theyll need to ambush the Melbourne boys early with an all-out assault.
The Storm should be good enough to win here but this is by no means a gimme and shapes as the game of the round. Its a long trip to Townsville, especially after playing Monday night in Canberra so dont be afraid to tip the home side if you feel that way inclined.
Match officials: Referee Gavin Badger; Sideline Officials Chris James & Russell Turner; Video ref Bill Harrigan.
Televised: Live Foxsports 7.30pm.
* Statistics: NRL Stats.
