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Cowboys v Warriors: Feldt back on deck; Same 17 for Stacey

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pan66.com
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The Cowboys' chances of running down Penrith for the minor premiership have evaporated so hanging on to second spot now becomes their priority.

They sit equal with the Sharks on 32 points but ahead by 71 on points differential and a home final in Townsville beckons provided they can hold their nerve in the remaining three games.

The Warriors have shown some positive signs against quality opposition in the past month but it doesn't get any tougher than facing the top two sides in the next fortnight.

If they can hold their heads high against the Cowboys and Panthers and then finish with a win in front of the Mt Smart faithful in Round 25 there will be plenty of positives to take into next season.

Sportsbet Betting preview: Cowboys v Warriors

The Rundown

Team news

Cowboys: Tom Gilbert will miss the game for family reasons, replaced in the starting side by Luciano Leilua with Jamayne Taunoa-Brown added to the bench. Veteran winger Kyle Feldt returns after missing two games with a hamstring injury so Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow reverts to the bench. Jordan McLean and Coen Hess will start at prop, with Reuben Cotter coming off the interchange. 

Warriors: Will take the field as named on Tuesday, with Stacey Jones sticking with the the same 17 who impressed against the Bulldogs in round 22. Dunamis Lui is the replacement player.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
    Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh
  • Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt
    Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 
  • Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine Holmes
    Centre for Warriors is number 3 Viliami Vailea
  • Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Peta Hiku
    Centre for Warriors is number 4 Marcelo Montoya
  • Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
    Winger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi
  • Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom Dearden
    Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Daejarn Asi
  • Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend
    Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Forwards

  • Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean
    Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin  Fonua-Blake
  • Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
    Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
  • Prop for Cowboys is number 16 Coen Hess
    Prop for Warriors is number 10 Tohu Harris
  • 2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
    2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Euan Aitken
  • 2nd Row for Cowboys is number 15 Luciano Leilua
    2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jack Murchie
  • Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Jason Taumalolo
    Lock for Warriors is number 13 Bunty Afoa

Interchange

  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 10 Reuben Cotter
    Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Freddy Lussick
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
    Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tom Ale
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Griffin Neame
    Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Eliesa Katoa
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 18 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
    Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Josh Curran

Reserves

  • Replacement for Cowboys is number 20 Jake Granville
    Replacement for Warriors is number 20 Dunamis Lui

Match Officials

  • Referee: Chris Butler
  • Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
  • Touch Judge: Nick Morel
  • Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger

Last updated:

Key match-up

Chad Townsend v Shaun Johnson: With 438 games between them, Townsend and Johnson have seen it all and then some. Townsend has had a profound influence on the Cowboys in his first season and his big-game experience will be invaluable come finals time. Johnson has chalked up seven try assists in his past six games and turned back the clock with a sizzling solo try against the Bulldogs. Both possess astute kicking games and whoever comes out on top in that department should be walking away with the two competition points.

Stat Attack

The Cowboys and Warriors entered the competition together in 1995 and have met on 40 occasions, with the ledger even at 20 wins apiece. Their past two meetings have been decided by a single point - the Warriors winning 25-24 in golden point at Redcliffe's Moreton Daily Stadium in Round 5 this year after the Cowboys prevailed 29-28 in Round 12 last year thanks to a Val Holmes field goal with 41 seconds to play.

Related

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.