Bulldogs vs Cowboys Prediction: There’s no backing the battle-weary Bulldogs

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Bulldogs vs Cowboys Odds

The Dogs are favourites, despite their inconsistent start to the year which has seen them lose four of the last five – the one win coming against the otherwise-dominant Panthers. Betfred have them at 4/5 to arrest that trend.

Todd Payten’s visitors are 11/10, with the draw in regulation available at 16/1.

Team News

Ciraldo makes three changes to his starting XIII, one of them enforced. Viliame Kikau is out with a pec injury, so Sitili Tupouniua is promoted from the interchange bench.

The other alterations see Enari Tuala handed the number five shirt, moving Marcelo Montoya down to the bench, and Bailey Hayward given the start at hooker in a straight swap with Jake Turpin.

Josh Curran, Lipoi Hopoi and Alekolasimi Jones are all named among the substitutes, with Harry Hayes dropping out due to suspension.

Rugby League Odds

Payten calls up Zac Laybutt to start on the wing in place of Murray Taulagi, who is under concussion protocols.

Elsewhere, Thomas Mikaele is out of the starting line-up, with Jeremiah Nanai coming off the bench to take the former Warrington Wolves star’s place in the second row.

Cowboys by 1-12 @ 13/5

I just can’t back the Dogs here. The Cowboys have racked up 28 or more points in five of their last six matches, while Canterbury have reached that barrier just once all year.

North Queensland have already seen off the likes of Melbourne, Brisbane and Cronulla in their five-from-six run of wins since Round 3, and the Bulldogs are in no sort of form to outdo a really dynamic Cowboys side.

We all know there are exceptions, mind. The Dogs’ only win since mid-February was that stunner against Penrith, so they can definitely step it up.

And the Cowboys were undone a fortnight ago by the surging Sea Eagles. But there’s just no sign of the Bulldogs being able to turn that sort of performance on this week, so I have to back an away win.

Three of the Cowboys’ five wins thus far have fallen in the 1-12 margin bracket, with another – against the Titans in March – coming by 14. So I’m willing to go with the difference being less than three scores once more at 13/5.