NRL 2021: North Queensland Cowboys v Canterbury Bulldogs, round 6 preview

Cowboys v Bulldogs: Taumalolo out again; Atoni to start

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sun 18 Apr 2021, 03:05 PM

The Cowboys breathed life into their season with a deserved win over Wests Tigers on Sunday.

Now they return home to face a Canterbury side that has allowed 174 points in five matches and is the only side in the NRL without a win.

After failing to score in their previous three matches, the Bulldogs managed three tries in last weekend's loss to the Storm.

If they can start strongly in Townsville, confidence could grow and a first win of 2021 could follow.

The Cowboys, on the other hand, will be determined to keep the doubts Canterbury players must be feeling bubbling away for another week.

Round 6 - Round 6 - Sunday 18 Apr

Full Time

Cowboys

Bulldogs

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

Highlights Latest

The rundown

Team news

Cowboys: Jason Taumalolo (hand) is ruled out once more after suffering a new fractured hand at training, on the opposite hand to the one that he injured in March.

Lachlan Burr will start at lock and Mitch Dunn joining the interchange. Esan Marsters also dropped out of the squad on Saturday.

Jake Clifford is the 18th man.

Justin O'Neill (head knock) is set to make his return from injury in the centres in place of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (ankle). Connolly Lemuelu has been named despite being under a cloud with a shoulder complaint.

The Cowboys have won seven of their past nine games against the Bulldogs.

Bulldogs: In a late change, Renouf Atoni will start at prop with Dylan Napa back to the interchange bench. Aaron Schoupp will be the 18th man.

Skipper Josh Jackson is out after suffering a torn calf at training, with English forward Luke Thompson replacing him at lock.

Chris Smith has moved from the reserves to the interchange.

Brandon Wakeham, Dean Britt and Joe Stimson dropped off the initial reserves list on Saturday, with Schoupp the new addition.

Playmaker Lachlan Lewis (head knock) was a chance of returning this week but will have to wait until at least next round.

The Bulldogs have not won in Queensland since May 2019.

Round 6 - Round 6 - Sunday 18 Apr

Full Time

Cowboys

Bulldogs

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Valentine Holmes

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt

Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Nick Cotric
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Justin O'Neill

Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Will Hopoate
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Connelly Lemuelu

Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Corey Allan
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi

Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Tuipulotu Katoa
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Scott Drinkwater

Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Jake Averillo
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Ben Hampton

Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Kyle Flanagan

Forwards

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Coen Hess

Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Jack Hetherington
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson

Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Sione Katoa
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jordan McLean

Prop for Bulldogs is number 15 Renouf Atoni
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Shane Wright

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Adam Elliott
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Ben Condon

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Corey Waddell
Lock for Cowboys is number 15 Lachlan Burr

Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Luke Thompson

Interchange

Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Jake Granville

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 8 Dylan Napa
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Francis Molo

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Jackson Topine
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Corey Jensen

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Chris Smith
Interchange for Cowboys is number 19 Mitchell Dunn

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Ofahiki Ogden

Reserves

Reserve for Cowboys is number 21 Jake Clifford

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 25 Aaron Schoupp

Match Officials

Referee: Ashley Klein
Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 5/29/2023 4:41:05 AM

Key match-up

Jason Taumalolo v Luke Thompson: Taumalolo's expected return from a broken hand will see he and Thompson battle for supremacy in the middle third of the field. Thompson - who played his first match of 2021 last weekend - made a notable difference to the Canterbury pack when he was on the field against Melbourne.

Stat attack

Canterbury have scored 34 points in five matches, the fewest since Western Suburbs scored the same number of points in the opening five weeks of 1999.

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