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Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys Tips - Cowboys to seal home NRL Elimination Final

Jeremy Darke

Editor

Last updated: 06 Sep 2024

Jeremy Darke 06 Sep 2024

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Canterbury Bulldogs vs North QLD Cowboys expert predictions for Saturday’s Round 27 NRL game
Bulldogs and Cowboys fight for home ground advantage in Elimination Final
Cowboys backed for the win, focusing on their strong offensive form

Expired

Cowboys to take down the Bulldogs? (Getty)

Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys Predictions

Fifth placed Bulldogs take on the sixth placed Cowboys in a game that could decide who gets a home in Elimination Final. I'm backing the Queenslanders to do so and play in Townsville next weekend.

Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys Predictions
Head to Head
Canterbury Bulldogs Form
Canterbury Bulldogs Team News
Canterbury Bulldogs Team List
North Queensland Cowboys Form
North Queensland Cowboys Team News
North Queensland Cowboys Team List

The Cowboys have won 4 of 6 games in NSW in 2024.
16 of 23 Canterbury games have gone under the game total in 2024.
The past 4 games between Cantrbury and North QLD have gone under the game total.
Val Holmes has scored 5 tries in his past 4 games.

Head to Head

The Cowboys got up 20-18 against the Bulldogs back in round 20 up in Townsville with a late try from Jaxon Purdue in the 70th minute and Val Holmes converting for the win with goalkicking being the difference.

The two clubs have exchanged wins since the 2022 season winning two alternative games each. The Cowboys have a 5-3 head to head advantage since 2019.

Canterbury Bulldogs Form

The Canterbury defence conceded the most points they have all season in their 22-34 loss to the Manly Sea Eagles last Friday night. It was a game split by hairs in the statistics and it was simply the Sea Eagles taking their chances.

It could very well be the reality check that the Bulldogs needed heading into the finals after winning 5 straight in the matches prior to facing Manly.

The Bulldogs defence has been close to best in the league, averaging just 16.9 points per game (2nd in NRL), allowing just 3.9 linebreaks per game (1st in NRL) and 1324.1 run meters (3rd in NRL).

Expect a bounce-back performance from the Dogs defence this week.

Canterbury Bulldogs Team News

Bronson Xerri will serve a one-match ban for a hip-drop tackle with Stephen Crichton coming in a straight swap.

Matt Burton is under concussion protocol and will be replaced by Drew Hutchinson

Canterbury Bulldogs Team List

1. Connor Tracey

2. Jeral Skelton

3. Jacob Kiraz

4. Stephen Crichton

5. Josh Addo-Carr

6. Drew Hutchison

7. Toby Sexton

8. Max King

9. Reed Mahoney

10. Sam Hughes

11. Viliame Kikau

12. Jacob Preston

13. Jaeman Salmon

Interchange

14. Bailey Hayward

15. Kurtis Morrin

16. Harry Hayes

17. Josh Curran

Reserves

19. Blake Taaffe

20. Jack Underhill

21. Eli Clark

22. Lipoi Hopoi

23. Jonathan Sua

North Queensland Cowboys Form

North Queensland have finished the year strong, winning 5 of their past 6 matches, including what was a nailbiting win against a reserves team from the Melbourne Storm last week 38-30. A performance that Todd Payten will not be proud of.

Their attack has been their driving force of the Cowboys success and their defence has been their downfall and leaking 30 points to the Storm last week was disappointing considering their squad.

It has been a bad habit of North Queensland all season long that they have switched off in periods of the match just as they did against Melbourne.

The Cowboys have conceded 30+ points in 3 of their past 4 matches but have still managed to win 3 of 4 matches riding the strength of their attack.

North Queensland Cowboys Team News

Thomas Mikaele comes onto the bench for Jaxon Purdue in the only change for Todd Payten.

North Queensland Cowboys Team List

1. Scott Drinkwater

2. Kyle Feldt

3. Valentine Holmes

4. Villiami Vailea

5. Murray Taulagi

6. Tom Dearden

7. Jake Clifford

8. Jordan McLean

9. Reece Robson

10. Jason Taumalolo

11. Heilum Luki

12. Jeremiah Nanai

13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange

14. Sam McIntyre

15. Thomas Mikaele

16. Harrison Edwards

17. Griffin Neame

Reserves

18. Jaxon Purdue

19. Chad Townsend

20. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

21. Marly Bitungane

22. Tom Chester

Verdict

Canterbury Bulldogs v North QLD

North Queensland are backed to get the underdog victory over Canterbury in a match that goes under the game total.

North Queensland

Money Line

@23/20 - 3 Units

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Under 47.5

Game Total

@48/49 - 2 Units

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Valentine Holmes

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Valentine Holmes

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@15/1 - 1 Unit

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