Cowboys v Raiders: Hess, McLean to start; Kris in for Cotric
The Cowboys will be out to make amends for a narrow loss in round one and also get their attack in gear after posting just one try against the Bulldogs.
The Raiders showed plenty of positive signs against the Sharks, holding their nerve to get home on the back of a late Hudson Young try after going 19-18 behind with seven minutes to play.
Ricky Stuart's men face a long road trip to Townsville but the Cowboys have failed to turn Queensland Country Bank Stadium into a fortress, losing their past five home matches.
One game the Cowboys did manage to win at home in 2021 came in round seven when they charged back from18 points down to beat the Raiders 26-24.
Sportsbet Betting preview: Cowboys v Raiders
The Rundown
Team news
Cowboys: The Cowboys are 1-17 with no late changes. Connelly Lemuelu was the last man cut and Scott Drinkwater is 18th man.
Jordan McLean replaces Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (knee) in the starting side and Griffin Neame is the new face on Todd Payten's bench.
Coen Hess has been promoted to the starting side at prop, Jason Taumalolo goes back to lock and Mitchell Dunn to the bench.
Raiders: Nick Cotric has been ruled out with a quad strain and his place is taken by Seb Kris.
After six games in two seasons as a Raider, Matt Frawley gets the nod at halfback with Brad Schneider in COVID isolation. Tom Starling takes over at hooker from Josh Hodgson, who is expected to miss a month with a knee injury.
The new back-up hooker is 20-year-old Adrian Trevilyan, who makes his NRL debut off the bench.
Match: Cowboys v Raiders
Round 2 -
home Team
Cowboys
away Team
Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-FidowFullback for Raiders is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
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Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle FeldtWinger for Raiders is number 5 James Schiller
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Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine HolmesCentre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
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Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Peta HikuCentre for Raiders is number 4 Semi Valemei
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Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray TaulagiWinger for Raiders is number 19 Sebastian Kris
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Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom DeardenFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
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Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad TownsendHalfback for Raiders is number 7 Matt Frawley
Forwards
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Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLeanProp for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i
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Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece RobsonHooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
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Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Coen HessProp for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
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2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Tom Gilbert2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
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2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Corey Harawira-Naera
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Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Jason TaumaloloLock for Raiders is number 13 Elliott Whitehead
Interchange
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Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Jake GranvilleInterchange for Raiders is number 14 Adrian Trevilyan
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Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Heilum LukiInterchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
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Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Mitchell DunnInterchange for Raiders is number 16 Adam Elliott
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Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Griffin NeameInterchange for Raiders is number 17 Corey Horsburgh
Reserves
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Replacement for Cowboys is number 19 Scott DrinkwaterReplacement for Raiders is number 18 Xavier Savage
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
Chad Townsend v Matt Frawley: The Cowboys playmaker is closing in on 200 career games and has a premiership ring from his days at Cronulla. The Raiders No.7 is only four years Townsend's junior but has played just 37 NRL games and would love to grab this opportunity with both hands as he fills in for Brad Schneider, who is in COVID isolation. Townsend's kicking game came to the fore in a tense second half against the Bulldogs but in the end he couldn't get them home and he'll be looking to go up a notch this week.
Stat attack
The Raiders came up with 23 offloads in round one, stretching the Sharks on several occasions with some enterprising second-phase play. Joe Tapine led the way with four offloads while Josh Papalii, Elliott Whitehead and Corey Harawira-Naera had three each. In stark contrast the Cowboys produced just two offloads on a steamy evening in Townsville where conditions were hardly conducive but their attack was out of sync for much of the game.
