Now that the Melbourne Storm are back on track a bit in the rugby betting picks, the North Queensland Cowboys have to step up their form to stay in the hunt for 2nd place in the NRL ladder. Thursday’s game should present an opportunity to do just that, as the Cowboys are matched up with the Gold Coast Titans who are the third-worst team in the NRL.
This is Origin duty week and North Queensland’s successful start to the year is being rewarded/punished with Val Holmes, Reuben Cotter, Tom Dearden, and Jeremiah Nanai playing for the Maroons.
Last Game Records
North Queensland had a six-game win streak going, but they ran into a buzzsaw last week in the form of the league-leading Penrith Panthers. The Cowboys were outmatched 22-0 in another statement game by Penrith, who looked destined for a second straight premiership title.
Gold Coast has a great opportunity in this spot but they’ve lost 7 of their last 8. One of those defeats over that stretch was a 30-4 loss to these Cowboys in round 7. Most recently the Titans were bounced 35-24 against Brisbane, not a horrible showing against a Dragons team that is 4th in the NRL ladder even though they were up 24-4 after 50 minutes.
Titans vs Cowboys Betting Analysis
North Queensland is just a -5.5 favorite for Thursday’s matchup, which even on the road seems like a low number. The Cowboys are -210 on the Moneyline, but can Gold Coast really pull off the upset at +185?
Sure the Cowboys lost last week, but to Penrith who is stomping pretty much everybody this whole season. Oddsmakers must have quickly forgotten the North Queensland six game win streak and the fact that the Titans have dropped 7 of their last 8. This line seems like a steal even with all the Cowboys absences for country of origin duty. .
Gold Coast Tries to Close Out
What do we take more out of Gold Coast’s loss last week, that they were up 24-4 at one point against a Broncos team or that they allowed five tries in the final 21 minutes to lose 35-24? That has dropped the Titans to 3-9 on the season, disappointing after a moderate 2-2 start.
The Titans had a very similar defeat in round three, up 22-0 to the Raiders just before halftime before falling 24-22. That was one of the defeats that sent Gold Coast on their current slide of losses in 7 of 8 in what was supposed to be the start of unprecedented success after making the Finals series last year.
North Queensland has one of the best defenses in the NRL, which isn’t good because the Titans are the fourth lowest scoring team in the league.
Absences Too Much to Overcome for Cowboys?
Holmes is the big loss for the Cowboys this week as he is second in the NRL in scoring (107 points) and the league leader in goals (45). Nanai is also a top 20 scorer (40 points) and Dearden has also added 20 points.
North Queensland will have Jason Taumalolo back from a knee injury while Murray Taulagi and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow were selected to the Maroons but were released to play for the Cowboys.
We will see if the system or the talent is the guiding force behind North Queensland’s 8-4 record on the season. There seems to be a big gap between the top three teams in the NRL this season with the 3rd place Cowboys having 136 points and the 4th place Broncos 63. Those Broncos scored 35 unanswered against Gold Coast last round.
Titans vs Cowboys Betting Preview
It’s understandable that the line is just -5.5 with the major absences that the Cowboys have due to Origin week. Holmes had four conversions and a penalty goal in North Queensland’s 30-4 win in round 7 so he’s going to be a huge loss. That being said, the Titans have to be down after blowing a big lead last week.
Titans vs Cowboys Betting Prediction
The Cowboys are down big in this one, but should still prevail by double digits. Those Origin absences are an opportunity for other players on North Queensland to step up.
How to bet on Titans vs Cowboys
Take North Queensland -5.5
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