Cowboys v Storm Match Previews (Round 3)

[Granty]

Rugby League Week

With David Middleton

Dairy Farmers Stadium - Saturday, March 25, 1.30pm

HISTORY: Played 13, Melbourne 9, Cowboys 4.

THIS GROUND: Played 6; Melbourne 4, Cowboys 2.

PAST TWO -GAMES:

Cowboys - 20-16 v Sea Eagles at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 36-4 v Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
Storm- 22-18 v Roosters at Aussie Stadium, 22-16 v Warriors at Ericsson Stadium.

AS North Queensland braced for Cyclone Larry, the Cowboys were preparing for a different kind of tempest. The Cowboys’ clash with Melbourne this Saturday night has all the elements of a powderkeg.

There is no shortage of bad blood following last year's Carl Webb incident and the "grapple tackle" controversy which raged in the lead-up to the semi-final at Aussie Stadium last September.

On both occasions the Cowboys won; which means that the Storm will be primed to get one back. At this early stage of the season these teams are shaping as two of the more promising premiership contenders.

The Cowboys will be hit hard by the loss of hooker Aaron Payne; whose spark around the rucks has provided Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen with many attacking chances. Melbourne almost lost their way in the second half against the Roosters last Sunday, so look to a Storm /Cowboys result as an option in Half/Full Double betting. There is not likely to be much in this, so consider either side at 1-12 in the Margins. For First Tryscorer stick with Matt Bowen, Ty Williams and Johnathan Thurston for the Cowboys or Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and Matt Geyer for the Storm.

THE NUMBERS GAME

* The Cowboys beat Melbourne 30-24 at Dairy Farmers in round 26 last year.
* The Cowboys have won 10 of their past 13 games at Dairy Farmers.
* Melbourne won five of 12 away games last year but are 2-0 away in 2006.
* Matt Sing has been First Tryscorer in both the Cowboys' games this season.

TV: Fox One 9.20pm (AEDT)

[Granty]

http://www.nrl.com/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/520/Default.aspx#cowboysstorm

Big League (via nrl.com)

Cowboys v Storm

Dairy Farmers Stadium
Saturday night 7.30pm

Don’t expect any niceties when these sides face up on Saturday night. A spiteful and controversial clash at Townsville in round 26 last year was followed by a war of words in the build-up to their semi-final a fortnight later.

Form: Both sides are undefeated after two rounds but the Cowboys have been the more impressive in defeating Brisbane and Manly. The Storm failed to put away the Warriors and the Roosters after building substantial leads.

History: The Cowboys have won only four out of 13 clashes since 1998, but importantly, they prevailed in both meetings last season.

Danger sign: A neck injury to hooker Aaron Payne is bad news for the home side. His early form had Queensland State of Origin written all over it and he will be missed.

Best Bet? Melbourne to take advantage of injury concerns among the Cowboys to snatch victory. Take the Storm at the head-to-head or handicap.

Money-spinner: Melbourne’s Greg Inglis to score the first try. He scored first against the Warriors and first against the Roosters, both times in the ninth minute of play.

[Granty]

http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=preview&id=2141

Sportal.com.au

Cowboys v Storm

VENUE & TIME: Dairy Farmers Stadium, Saturday night - 20:30 AEDT
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 13, Storm 9, Cowboys 4
COVERAGE: Fox Sports
LAST TIME: Cowboys 24 - Storm 16 at Aussie Stadium, finals, 2005


WALKING WOUNDED

Form Cowboys hooker Aaron Payne was stretchered from the field last week after falling akwardly on his neck, but has recovered sufficiently to take his place for this match. Experienced winger Matt Sing (lower back) and centre Paul Bowman (ribs) are in doubt.

Star Storm off-season signing, Mick Crocker will miss up to three matches with a badly broken nose after colliding with one of his teammates last week. Boom centre Greg Inglis should back up after aggravating a hip flexor injury. Forwards Ben Cross (ankle), Denis Scott (neck) and Glen Turner (ankle) are all due back in the next fortnight, International Matt King (leg) returns in the centres.

FORM

The Cowboys were on track to repeat their round one drubbing of the Broncos when they skipped to a 20-4 lead against Manly last week. But the hint of complacency crept in during the second-half and they were eventually taken to the brink of defeat by the spirited Sea Eagles.

The Storm experienced a similar pattern in their match against the Roosters last Sunday, skipping away early only to be challenged at the death. Their 22-0 lead should have been more though with several tries bombed. Good to see the club remove the Aussie Stadium monkey off their back - it was only their second win at the finals ground in 10 starts.

WHO'S HOT

Matt Sing for the Cowboys. At almost 30 years of age, the former Test winger continues to perform and last week he crossed for no less than three tries, pushing his career tally to 150. He becomes only the sixth player in the history of the game to reach that mark.

The Melbourne Storm continue to get consummate service from their hooker Cameron Smith. He may not be the quickest dummy-half around, but he possesses all the skills and they were on show in a big way against the Roosters where he controlled the ruck with relative ease. He probably has the coolest head of any player in the comp.

WHO'S NOT

Cowboys centre Josh Hannay. One must wonder if the former Origin rep has been blacklisted for good by coach Graeme Murray this season after spending the first two rounds in the Queensland Cup. His goal kicking is obviously not the attraction it used to be.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Brett Firman v Cooper Cronk
Johnathan Thurston v Scott Hill
Matt Bowen v Billy Slater

LIKE TO SEE

Plenty of room to move for respective fullbacks Billy Slater and Matt Bowen. You will not get two more exciting kick-returners in rugby league and both will be keen to impress Queensland selectors with Maroon number one jersey up for grabs yet again.

WOULDN'T LIKE TO SEE

Poor weather affect the surface for this wondeful game in propect. It hasn't been the best of weeks weather-wise for those in the northern part of Queensland.

WE THINK

Both sides are filled with attacking weapons, but the Storm seem to be playing better to the structures of their coach at this early stage of the season. The Cowboys play a more ad-lib style and this could bring their undoing in what should be a ripper of a game. Storm by 6.

[Granty]

http://www.cowboys.com.au/MatchPreview.asp?MatchPreviewID=80

MURRAY TO GIVE PLAYERS TIME TO BE FIT

23rd of March 2006

Coach of the Toyota Cowboys Graham Murray will give as long as possible for his injured players to prove their fitness.

Aaron Payne, Matt Sing, Paul Bowman and David Faiumu will be given as long as possible to prove their fitness ahead of this Saturdays clash with the Melbourne Storm.

The Storm flew into Townsville today ahead of Saturday's game and like the home team are undefeated in 2006. This game will be a titanic struggle in the forwards with the Storm looking to shut down Cowboys prop Shane Tronc who leads the total running metres in the competition with 341. Cowboys back rower Luke O'Donnell is also in the top 10 department gaining territory. The stats also show that the Cowboys need to be on the look out for Storm hooker Cameron Smith as he has darted out of dummy half 12 times over the first two games which is third on the overall table.

The game kicks off at 7.30pm Queensland Time with the Queensland Cup game between the NQ Toyota Young Guns and Norths starting at 5.30pm.

[Granty]

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=92805

TIPPING | By Wally Lewis

Cowboys v Storm at Dairy Farmers Stadium

This will be a night where there'll be very few pies and chips sold during the match, with two of the most exciting attacking teams in the competition on display. An early battle for the Maroons fullback spot is underway, with Cowboy Matt Bowen and Melbourne's Billy Slater likely to excite the crowd every time they touch the ball.

The good news for the locals is that Matt Sing has shaken off an injury to return to the wing, while one of the competition's most talented utility players, David Faiumu, makes his return to the North Queensland bench. Storm sensation Greg Inglis will also hope to impress the Queensland selectors, however Cowboys fans would rather be impressed by his form in a few weeks' time.

The Storm will attempt to run the Cowboys larger forward pack off their feet with their smaller, more mobile pack, as they did to the Broncos in the finals last year. The Cowboys will continue to use their link pass system between three of the best in the business around the edge of the ruck, no matter what the size of their opponents.

While Melbourne have a far better record in matches between the pair, the Cowboys have been asked to perform for the people of Innisfail and perhaps this may add a little extra to their game.

TIP: Cowboys


WINNERS:

KNIGHTS
WARRIORS
SEA EAGLES
COWBOYS
EELS
DRAGONS
ROOSTERS