NZ Warriors vs. North Queensland Cowboys

 

Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, Monday 4pm (AEDT, 6pm local)
Last meeting: Round 23 2012 - Cowboys 52 bt Warriors 12 at Dairy Farmers Stadium
Head-to-head: Warriors 16 Cowboys 15
Referees: Gavin Badger, Henry Perenara


The last-placed Warriors would have been well advised to take a good, hard look themselves after their 11th successive loss, against Cronulla last Sunday.  Matthew Elliott’s men seemed to be at Sharks Stadium in body but not in spirit as they crashed to a 28-4 defeat against a club gripped by the biggest crisis in its history. Even the Warriors’ once-vaunted second-phase game deserted them as they produced a meagre three offloads compared to Sharks’ 16.
It’s worth remembering, though, that the Warriors lost their first three games in 2011 yet bounced back to make the grand final against Manly. It would be some turnaround if they could repeat that effort. North Queensland, after beginning the season so brightly with a win against Canterbury, have slumped to two heavy defeats against Melbourne and Newcastle. Coach Neil Henry has kept faith with the same team that was humbled by the Knights to get the Cowboys back on track.

AAP writes: The Warriors have beaten the Cowboys in six of their past seven meetings across the ditch, but that statistic will count for nothing after last week's woeful showing at Cronulla.
The 2011 grand finalists have lost their past 11 games going back to round 18 last year and have failed to score in the first half this season. Coach Matt Elliott remains optimistic of turning things around, but he needs to do so fast.
Eyebrows were raised when he was appointed and the pressure is on to show he's the right man for the job. The Cowboys have lost their past two, and three straight defeats for a side with so much talent will crank up the heat on Neil Henry.
Key: Shaun Johnson looks a shadow of the player who was so good in 2011. He needs to fire if the Warriors are to get out of this slump.
WARRIORS: Kevin Locke, Glen Fisiiahi, Dane Nielsen, Konrad Hurrell, Ngani Laumape, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Sam Rapira, Elijah Taylor, Ben Matulino, Ben Henry, Simon Mannering (capt), Todd Lowrie. Interchange: Jacob Lillyman, Feleti Mateo, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Pita Godinet, Bill Tupou (one to be omitted).
COWBOYS: Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Michael Morgan, Matt Scott (capt), Scott Moore, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Anthony Mitchell, Ashton Sims, Scott Bolton, Jason Taumalolo, Blake Leary (one to be omitted).