Cowboys vs Dolphins Rd 9 teams & free betting tips | NRL 2024

Cowboys v Dolphins best bets

Cowboys vs Dolphins Round 9 match preview

Round nine of the 2024 NRL Premiership rolls on this Saturday night with a Queensland derby in Townsville as the struggling Cowboys host the Dolphins.

Having started the season with wins over the Dolphins, Knights and Dragons, North Queensland have now lost four of their five matches. Meanwhile, the Dolphins are looking to avoid a similar slump after their injury-ravaged side lost to an equally affected Knights team last weekend at Suncorp Stadium.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has made several changes, with Felise Kaufusi (hamstring) and Connelly Lemuelu (knee) being named to return from injury. Kaufusi will start in place of the concussed Kenny Bromwich, with Lemuelu replacing Oryn Keeley on the interchange.

North Queensland Cowboys coach Todd Payten has also been forced to make changes following last week’s loss to the Panthers in Townsville. Tom Chester (hamstring) and Jake Granville (omitted) have been replaced by Heilum Luki, who will return from an ankle injury via the bench, with Viliami Vailea named to make his club debut at centre.

North Queensland Cowboys v Dolphins Rd 9 team lists

North Queensland Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater
2. Kyle Feldt
3. Valentine Holmes
4. Viliami Vailea
5. Semi Valemei
6. Tom Dearden
7. Chad Townsend
8. Jordan McLean
9. Reece Robson
10. Griffin Neame
11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
12. Jeremiah Nanai
13. Reuben Cotter
14. Heilum Luki
15. Thomas Mikaele
16. Sam McIntyre
17. Jason Taumalolo

Dolphins

1. Trai Fuller
2. Jamayne Isaako
3. Jake Averillo
4. Tesi Niu
5. Jack Bostock
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Isaiya Katoa
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Mark Nicholls
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Euan Aitken
13. Max Plath
14. Josh Kerr
15. Kurt Donoghoe
16. Ray Stone
17. Connelly Lemuelu

North QLD Cowboys v Dolphins betting predictions

The Cowboys have won two of their three matches against the Dolphins by 13 or more points, with the one loss coming at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. On that occasion, North Queensland were without representative players Murray Taulagi, Jeremiah Nanai, and Jordan McLean, while Reuben Cotter failed to play the full 80 minutes. The Cowboys have won seven of their last eight matches when playing with a rest advantage and will be expected to secure another dominant win by 13 or more ($2.25).

With stars like Scott Drinkwater, Valentine Holmes, Tom Dearden, Jamayne Isaako, and Isaiya Katoa on the field, there should be points aplenty. Each of the Cowboys’ last six matches has gone over the total points line, and all three of their clashes with the Dolphins have been high-scoring affairs. Look for this trend to continue with over 48.5 points scored in total ($1.90).

Cowboys centre Holmes’ form in recent weeks has been red-hot, scoring five tries in his last six matches to go with numerous line breaks, tackle breaks and offloads. This weekend he will be attacking the less-experienced Tesi Niu, who has missed five tackles in his last two losses. Holmes is a near-certainty to score a try at some stage ($2.45).

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