Queensland Country Bank Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 1 NRL game between North Queensland Cowboys and Canberra Raiders. The game kicks off at 5:30 pm with North Queensland Cowboys heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the North Queensland Cowboys vs. Canberra Raiders game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Saturday March 4, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Where: Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders Odds
North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders Preview
North Queensland Cowboys are short favourites to parlay their amazing return to top-four prominence last year into the perfect start to 2023 against Ricky Stuart’s Canberra Raiders.
The Cowboys will field 14 of their preliminary final 17 and have added 2015 premiership hero James Tamou to their front-row rotation.
Luciano Leilua remains stood down but their back-row depth and quality is close to the best in the NRL.
The Raiders – who went on a stirring late-season run in 2022 to make the Top 8 and reach week two – have had a couple of injury setbacks.
Fullback Xavier Savage (broken jaw) and front-row anchor Josh Papalii (calf strain) are replaced by regular centre Sebastian Kris and tyro Pasami Saulo.
Meanwhile, Danny Levi’s strong trial form has earned him the No.9 jumper in a superb Raiders pack, while Jack Wighton and Jamal Fogarty will enjoy the chance to start the campaign together after the latter’s trial injury last year.
The Cowboys are 3-0 against the Raiders over the past two seasons, racking up a 26-6 win in Townsville in Round 2 in a harbinger of their big season ahead and prevailing 18-12 in Canberra four weeks later.
The Cowboys have lost their last three Round 1 games and went down 6-4 to the Bulldogs in a diabolically dour home game in 2022.
The Raiders have won the last four season openers; they may not make it five but look the best bet here with a generous start.
Content provided by Ladbrokes
Head To Head Bet
We're tipping North Queensland Cowboys to win at $1.36 odds.
First Try Scorer
First Try Scorer: Kyle Feldt at $9.25.
North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders Teams
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Coen Hess 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. James Tamou 18. Brendan Elliot 19. Riley Price 20. Tomas Chester 21. Gehamat Shibasaki 22. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
Raiders team: 1. Sebastian Kris 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Harley Smith-Shields 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Pasami Saulo 9. Danny Levi 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Harawira-Naera 14. Tom Starling 15. Ata Mariota 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Emre Guler 18. Albert Hopoate 19. Matt Frawley 20. Zac Woolford 21. Trey Mooney 22. Peter Hola