North Qld – Manly | 7.30pm Saturday 30 May, 1300 Smiles Stadium
The Cowboys set a new club record with an eighth straight win in an eminently forgettable contest at Campbelltown that led some observers to call for a move towards stand-alone Origin weekends, such was the drab nature of the fare on offer. Aware that expansive football was unlikely to bear fruit without the direction of ringmasters Morgan and Thurston, Paul Green’s simple game plan that called for one-out forward charges was executed to perfection by his troops, who ground out a thoroughly useful win. Manly celebrate a milestone this weekend in playing their 1500th match and the Eagles were this week linked with a move to bring Trent Barrett, currently on the coaching staff at Penrith, across to the beaches to serve as Geoff Toovey’s understudy in a clear sign that the former hooker’s tenure at the club is up for review. Lachlan Coote was a rare shining light last weekend and his battle with Brett Stewart should prove entertaining. Like the Broncos, North Queensland had a strong representation on Wednesday night and are thus unlikely to be at their best but without Daly Cherry-Evans it’s hard to see Manly getting a result here.
Last time they met: Round 26 2014 – North Qld 30-16 Manly
North QLD by 14
The Cowboys set a new club record with an eighth straight win in an eminently forgettable contest at Campbelltown that led some observers to call for a move towards stand-alone Origin weekends, such was the drab nature of the fare on offer. Aware that expansive football was unlikely to bear fruit without the direction of ringmasters Morgan and Thurston, Paul Green’s simple game plan that called for one-out forward charges was executed to perfection by his troops, who ground out a thoroughly useful win. Manly celebrate a milestone this weekend in playing their 1500th match and the Eagles were this week linked with a move to bring Trent Barrett, currently on the coaching staff at Penrith, across to the beaches to serve as Geoff Toovey’s understudy in a clear sign that the former hooker’s tenure at the club is up for review. Lachlan Coote was a rare shining light last weekend and his battle with Brett Stewart should prove entertaining. Like the Broncos, North Queensland had a strong representation on Wednesday night and are thus unlikely to be at their best but without Daly Cherry-Evans it’s hard to see Manly getting a result here.
Last time they met: Round 26 2014 – North Qld 30-16 Manly
North QLD by 14