NRL Match Preview: Raiders v Cowboys

Author: Brielle Sciacca
Timestamp: Thu 2 Mar 2023, 10:59 AM

The Toyota Forklifts Raiders head up to North Queensland this weekend to face the Cowboys as they kick off their 2023 campaign.

The Raiders will be going into the game with plenty of excitement and hoping to continue their start of season winning streak, after winning the first game of the season for the past four years.

The Raiders will have two club debutants in Danny Levi (#388), who will start at hooker this weekend, and Pasami Saulo (#389) who will start in the front-row for the injured Josh Papalii after both impressed in the Preseason Challenge.

However, the Cowboys will also be looking to start their season on the right foot, after drawing to the Dolphins and going down by two-points to the Broncos in the 2023 Preseason Challenge.

The Raiders will be looking to turn the tide on the Cowboys this weekend, after going down to them in their last three matches.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Saturday 4 Mar

Full Time

Cowboys

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Sebastian Kris
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt

Winger for Raiders is number 2 Nick Cotric
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine Holmes

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Peta Hiku

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Harley Smith-Shields
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom Dearden

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Pasami Saulo
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson

Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Danny Levi
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Reuben Cotter

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Coen Hess

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai

2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Jason Taumalolo

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Corey Harawira-Naera

Interchange

Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Jake Granville

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Griffin Neame

Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Ata Mariota
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown

Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Corey Horsburgh
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 James Tamou

Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Emre Guler

Reserves

Replacement for Cowboys is number 18 Brendan Elliot

Replacement for Raiders is number 19 Matt Frawley

Match Officials

Referee: Adam Gee
Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:26:13 PM

Last time they met

The Cowboys defeated the Raiders in round six last season at GIO Stadium, coming back from a 12-nil deficit to win 18-12.

Key Match Ups

Joe Tapine v Reuben Cotter

This match-up is a hard one to pass after Joe Tapine’s stand out season last year, in which he was awarded the Dally M Prop of the year and the 2022 Mal Meninga Medal.

This Saturday, he will come up against representative forward Reuben Cotter, who also had a stellar season which included making his Australian debut in the recent Rugby League World Cup.

Both players are excellent runners of the ball, with Tapine averaging 165 running metres for the season and Cotter closely behind running for 124 metres on average last year.

This match up will be sure to light up Queensland Country Bank Stadium with both players looking to get their respective sides over the line in round one of the competition.

Jamal Fogarty v Chad Townsend

This is a classic match up in a battle of the halves with two very experienced players going head to head. The two halves are undoubtedly looking to wreak havoc out on the field in round one.

Fogarty, coming off the 2022 season only playing 15 games due to injury, still managed to average 261 kicking meters per game while sharing the kicking duties with halves partner Jack Wighton.

Meanwhile Townsend played all 26 games regular season games last season averaging an impressive 397 kicking meters per game.

These two players will be influential to their sides as they battle it out in the Townsville heat on Saturday afternoon.

Nick Cotric v Kyle Feldt

Nick Cotric and Kyle Feldt are two of the most dynamic and strongest wingers in NRL competition. Both players had solid 2022 seasons but will be looking to go one step further this year.

Both are renowned for their high-flying abilities and are sure to label themselves as threats for the 2023 competition. Look for these two in space as both wingers are dangerous close to the try line.

Feldt and Cotric will both be looking to put as many points on the board and take control of the game.