Match day guide and preview for the 2022 round 2 game between the Canberra Raiders and the North Queensland Cowboys.
Who, when and where?
- North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders
- Saturday 19 March, 7.35pm
- Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Queensland
- Click here to buy tickets
- Head-to-head record:Â Played 45. Raiders 25 wins. Cowboys 20 wins.
Raiders and Cowboys team lists
| Cowboys | Raiders | |
| Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow | 1 | Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad |
| Kyle Feldt | 2 | Nick Cotric |
| Valentine Holmes | 3 | James Schiller |
| Peta Hiku | 4 | Matt Timoko |
| Murray Taulagi | 5 | Semi Valemei |
| Tom Dearden | 6 | Jack Wighton |
| Chad Townsend | 7 | Matt Frawley |
| Jordan McLean | 8 | Josh Papalii |
| Reece Robson | 9 | Tom Starling |
| Coen Hess | 10 | Joe Tapine |
| Tom Gilbert | 11 | Hudson Young |
| Jeremiah Nanai | 12 | Corey Harawira-Naera |
| Jason Taumalolo | 13 | Elliott Whitehead |
| BENCH | ||
| Jake Granville | 14 | Adrian Trevilyan |
| Heilum Luki | 15 | Emre Guler |
| Mitchell Dunn | 16 | Adam Elliott |
| Griffin Neame | 17 | Corey Horsburgh |
| RESERVES | ||
| Reuben Cotter | 18 | Xavier Savage |
| Scott Drinkwater | 19 | Sebastian Kris |
| Connelly Lemuelu | 20 | Sam Williams |
| Brendan Elliot | 21 | Ryan Sutton |
| Ben Condon | 22 | Peter Hola |
| Emry Pere | 23 | Trey Mooney |
| Daejarn Asi | 24 | Harry Rushton |
Canberra Raiders
Ricky Stuart has been forced into two changes with Josh Hodgson (knee) and Brad Schneider (COVID) both ruled out.
With Schneider and Jamal Fogarty both out, Frawley will get another crack at halfback with Sam Williams named as a reserve.
Starling will start at hooker in place of Hodgson, with Townsville native Trevilyan to make his NRL debut off the bench.
North Queensland Cowboys
The Cowboys have made one change with Neame coming onto the bench and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown out of the side.
Round one recap
Canberra Raiders 24 – 19 Cronulla Sharks
Canberra started this game brilliantly, with Tapine and Papalii leading the way through the middle of the field, allowing the creative players room to work.
First half tries to Wighton, Valemei and Nicoll-Klokstad put Canberra ahead 18-6 at half time, but given last year’s second half woes, the game was far from over.
The Raiders gave up seven double digit leads in 2021, and it was almost a similar story against Cronulla after another shocking start to the second half.
Canberra came out of the break looking flat and the Sharks took advantage, scoring two quick tries to level the scores before taking the lead through a field goal.
To the Raiders credit, they regrouped and scored a brilliant try through Hudson Young with just minutes to go to seal the win.
The Raiders almost certainly would’ve lost that game last year, but their resilience to find a way to win was a great sign for the 2022 season.
North Queensland Cowboys 4 – 6 Canterbury Bulldogs
The bottom two sides from last year did little to give their fans much hope with an awful game of footy up in Townsville.
The Cowboys struggled to hang onto the ball throughout and didn’t offer much in attack when they did have field position.
Taumalolo continues to be an interesting watch, with the Cowboys enforcer spending a long time on the bench through the middle of the game as his side struggled.
Todd Payten needs to find the most effective way to use his best player, or the pressure will continue to build on the Cowboys coach.
Last 5 meetings
- 2021 Round 7: Cowboys 26 – 24 Raiders at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
- 2020 Round 12: Cowboys 12 – 14 Raiders at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
- 2019 Round 11: Raiders 16 – 22 Cowboys at GIO Stadium Canberra
- 2019 Round 4: Cowboys 12 – 30 Raiders at 1300SMILES Stadium, Townsville
- 2018 Round 18: Raiders 38 – 12 Cowboys at GIO Stadium
The results have been a mixed bag over the last five clashes, with Canberra holding a slight 3-2 advantage.
The last three games have been decided by 6 points or less, including the Cowboys comeback win over the Raiders in their only meeting last year.
After leading 24-6 during the first half, Canberra had one of their many 2021 second half fade outs as the Cowboys stormed home over the top.
Key players
Raiders – Tom Starling
Starling ended up playing 72 minutes after Hodgson went down early against Cronulla and did a terrific job at hooker.
The 23-year-old played with good speed out of dummy half and even set up Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad’s try with a perfectly weighted grubber. He’s also a quality defender in the middle of the field, constantly punching above his weight against the big boppers.
With Hodgson out, now is a great chance for Starling to really prove himself as the club’s future number one hooker.
Cowboys – Chad Townsend
Townsend came to the club this season on a big contract and is already under some pressure to live up to his price tag.
The Cowboys were simply awful against the Bulldogs in round one, with Townsend along with his halves partner Tom Dearden giving the side little direction.
After a poor 2021 season, the Cowboys need their recruit to step up quickly and start delivering wins.
Pre match predictions
Fine-footed Frawley: Matt Frawley to set up a try from a kick and three repeat sets.
Mugged at gunpoint: Raiders flip the script on 2021 and steal a late win over the Cowboys in the Townsville tropics – Denholm Samaras
Other match details
The match will be broadcast live on Fox League channel 502 at 7.35pm. It is also available to stream on Kayo. Overseas fans can watch via Watch NRL.
You can listen to the match on Raiders on Mix (Mix106.3 FM), Radio 2CC (1206 AM) and ABC Grandstand (666 ABC AM).
Gates open at 4.50pm (AEDST). Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required on entry.
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