Queensland Country Bank Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 25 NRL game between North Queensland Cowboys and Penrith Panthers. The game kicks off at 7:35 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. Penrith Panthers game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Saturday September 3, 2022 at 7:35 pm
Where: Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
North Queensland Cowboys vs Penrith Panthers Odds
North Queensland Cowboys vs Penrith Panthers Preview
With the JJ Giltinan Shield under lock and key, Penrith has changed the complexion of this important Saturday clash in Townsville by making mass changes.
Ivan Cleary has rested 11 players with another two out injured for what is a dead-rubber for his runaway competition leaders.
Only Sean O’Sullivan, Mitch Kenny, Chris Smith and Matt Eisenhuth remain from last week.
The 20-3 Panthers cruised to a 46-12 win over the Warriors last Friday.
North Queensland is coming off a 20-10 defeat away to South Sydney that saw the competition’s most improved team slip from second to third.
A win could return the Cowboys to second and a home final in the unlikely event Newcastle topples Cronulla, while it would at least see them avoid a week one trip to Penrith.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is named at five-eighth with Scott Drinkwater at fullback, while Tom Dearden could be a late halves inclusion from the reserves, Griffin Neame comes in for the suspended Coen Hess.
Charlie Staines will play fullback, Kurt Falls partners O’Sullivan in the halves, and Scott Sorensen will relish an opportunity in the starting pack.
Centre Thomas Jenkins and bench duo Liam Henry and Jack Cole are set to make their NRL debuts.
Hit by injury, the Cowboys were blanked 22-0 at Penrith in Round 12 – their fourth straight defeat to the heavyweights by a double-digit margin.
This is not the same Panthers team taking the field in the return encounter, however.
This virtual reserve-grade line-up could probably take down a few of the NRL’s lesser lights, but it’s hard to envisage any scenario where the Cowboys don’t win by plenty.
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North Queensland Cowboys vs Penrith Panthers Tip
We're tipping North Queensland Cowboys to win at $1.11 odds.
North Queensland Cowboys vs Penrith Panthers Teams
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Jake Granville 15. Tom Gilbert 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Griffin Neame 18. Brendan Elliot 19. Riley Price 20. Connelly Lemuelu 21. Tom Dearden 22. Ben Condon
Panthers team: 1. Charlie Staines 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Robert Jennings 4. Thomas Jenkins 5. Christian Crichton 6. Kurt Falls 7. Sean O?Sullivan 8. Lindsay Smith 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Matt Eisenhuth 11. Chris Smith 12. Scott Sorensen 13. J?maine Hopgood 14. Soni Luke 15. Eddie Blacker 16. Liam Henry 17. Jack Cole 18. Mavrik Geyer 19. Preston Riki 20. Ativalu Lisati 21. Liam Martin 22. Jaeman Salmon