North Queensland vs Canterbury betting tips, Saturday, April 14

5.30pm Saturday April 14, 2018, at 1300SMILES Stadium

IF any two teams in the NRL need a win more than the North Queensland Cowboys and the Canterbury Bulldogs, we don’t know who they are.

Had it not been for a spirited win in round one against the Cronulla Sharks in JT’s 300th game, the Cowboys could be winless to start 2018.

To further compound their woes, North Queensland was hammered by the New Zealand Warriors last week across the Tasman, leaving the club languishing in 14th position.

The Canterbury Bulldogs come into this game on the back of a horrendous 26-10 loss to the previously winless Canberra Raiders.

It’s been a disappointing start to the season for Canterbury. Aside from a shock win over the Panthers, it is not as if the Dogs have tackled the toughest teams this season.

They confronted the Storm and Roosters in the opening fortnight, but went on to get dismantled by Souths and the Raiders thereafter, ensuring that all but one of their losses this season has been a double-digit defeat.

Like we said, both teams desperately need a win.

Players to watch – Cowboys v Bulldogs

Cowboys – Johnathan Thurston: To say JT needs to provide a quality performance to get his side back on track is an understatement. Last week Thurston tried to deliver a spur of energy to his team in the second half but no player was prepared to come along for the ride. Will a home stay see JT and his chargers lift a cog?

Bulldogs – Kieran Foran: Superstar Kiwi Foran has been productive since crossing to the Dogs this season. The former Warrior scored one of his team’s two trys, which kept them in the contest early in the second half. If Foran can deliver again the Knights will be highly competitive.

Cowboys team

1 Lachlan Coote, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Justin O’Neill, 4 Ben Hampton, 5 Antonio Winterstein, 6 Michael Morgan, 7 Johnathan Thurston (c), 8 Matthew Scott (c), 9 Jake Granville, 10 Scott Bolton, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Coen Hess, 13 Jason Taumalolo

Interchange: 14 Te Maire Martin, 15 John Asiata, 16 Corey Jensen, 17 Ethan Lowe

Bulldogs team

1 Moses Mbye, 2 Brett Morris, 3 Josh Morris, 4 Will Hopoate, 5 Marcelo Montoya, 6 Jeremy Marshall-King, 7 Kieran Foran, 8 Aaron Woods, 9 Michael Lichaa, 10 David Klemmer, 11 Josh Jackson (c), 12 Raymond Faitala-Mariner, 13 Adam Elliott

Interchange: 14 Asipeli Fine, 15 Danny Fualalo, 16 Greg Eastwood, 17 Kerrod Holland

Cowboys v Bulldogs– who wins?

We’re favouring the Cowboys here to get their season back on track.

Interestingly, the Cowboys have been slow starters across the last five seasons, being outside the eight at this point of the campaign on three occasions. You just feel once it all clicks for the Cowboys they will be formidable.

The Bulldogs have been disappointing to say the least and looked listless at stages last week against weak opposition. We don’t think they are on the same level as the Cowboys.

North Queensland should be good enough to get the job done.

Tip: North Queensland Cowboys to win ($1.30 at Sportsbet)