North Queensland Cowboys vs New Zealand Warriors Predictions: Warriors can stun Cowboys

The New Zealand Warriors made a sluggish start to the season, but they have started to hit their stride as they prepare to make the trip to Townsville to face the North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday (08:30 kick-off).

Read below for my North Queensland Cowboys vs New Zealand Warriors prediction and all the latest team news.

After a four-game losing streak, the Warriors have responded well with back-to-back wins over the Penrith Panthers and the Dolphins.

Winning both of those games in Auckland, the Warriors must now try to do the business on the road against a Cowboys side that have also found their stride in recent weeks and head into this game on a three-match winning streak.

Team News

The Cowboys have received a double blow with the news Murray Taulagi (shoulder) and Reece Robson (neck) will miss this weekend’s game.

Along with Tuilagi and Robson, Valentine Holmes, Tom Dearden and Jeremiah Nanai also played in Wednesday’s opening State of Origin game but are available for Saturday.

Dearden and Nanau have been named in the interchanges, while Holmes was initially named in the reserves.

As for the Warriors, head coach Andrew Webster is set to welcome back fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (illness), centre Rocco Berry (hand), prop Addin Fonua-Blake (stood down), hooker Wayde Egan (head knock) and back-rowers Kurt Capewell (calf) and Tohu Harris (wrist) from their respective knocks and ailments.

Playmaker Shaun Johnson remains sidelined with a pectoral injury, but is in line to make a return on June 15 against Melbourne Storm.

North Queensland Cowboys vs New Zealand Warriors Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main North Queensland Cowboys vs New Zealand Warriors page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

The Cowboys are favourites at 8/11 to win on Saturday at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium, while the Warriors are 6/5 to cause an upset in Townsville.

A draw is available at 20/1, while over 49.5 total points is 10/11.

New Zealand Warriors to win @ 6/5

With a host of big names returning to the fold, the Warriors look in good shape to get one over the Cowboys in their own backyard.

The Warriors have won five of their past seven games against the Cowboys and have won both of their last two meetings.

Even without the talented Johnson, the Warriors can pick up the win in Townsville against a Cowboys side that have been stretched with Origin commitments for their top players.

New Zealand Warriors 1-12 points winning margin @ 5/2

Games between these sides tend to be close contests and the Warriors to win by 1-12 points looks to be the way to go here.

The winning margin has been 12 points or less in nine of the last 11 meetings between these sides and, if the Warriors are to get the job done in Townsville, don’t expect a comprehensive victory.

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