Round 1
Brisbane Broncos 19 d. North Queensland Cowboys 18

2009 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Analysis: Broncos 19 v Cowboys 18
Tue March 17, 2009
Source: NRL Stats: Broncos 19 v Cowboys 18

The all-Queensland match featuring the Broncos and Cowboys produced another cracker to kick start the season north of Tweed Heads.

A bumper crowd of 45,022 turned up at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium and the standard of football so early in the season showed that fans are set for a treat in 2009.

North Queensland might have lost the match, but the return of Matt Bowen and their spirited comeback in the second half showed they'll be one of the contenders this despite finishing equal last on competition points last year. Bowen made six tackle breaks and the try that he scored from a Johnathan Thurston kick was stuff made of brilliant players in the game. A comment on Sydney Talkback Radio summed up Bowen, "Rugby League goes well when Matt Bowen is on the field."

Brisbane can be proud to get away with the two points with a new coach in charge and many new faces being thrown into the deep end following a big loss of players. The Broncos showed that they will always be competitive in each game they play in.

Sam Thaiday has showed that he's growing into a leader with a fine all-round game of 35 tackles and 21 hit ups including the most metres with 145.

BRISBANE BRONCOS
Positive: Getting the two points first up in such a big clash is always a positive. The crowd support from the Brisbane faithful despite many player departures and a new coach for the first time was outstanding. Ivan Henjak is filling one of the biggest coaching shoes in Rugby League and to get a win first up helps him get out of the enormous shadow. The youngsters stood up and showed the platform for the future.

Negative: Poor goal kicking by Corey Parker and nearly surrendering the game after leading 14-6 early in the second half. The Broncos need concentrate for the full 80 minutes.

Verdict: This team can never be written off and have an amazing culture of competitive success.

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Positive: The return of Bowen is massive for the Cowboys fortunes and it took less than 80 minutes for the NRL's best combination to strike despite playing very little football together in the last 12 months.

Negative: Couldn't finish off an inexperienced Brisbane side when in the lead late in the match.

Verdict: A genuine two-man team and they need both Thurston and Bowen on the field to be a chance. If both stay healthy they are close to top four material.

TALKING POINT
The biggest crowd and best match of the round features two Queensland sides. Is Queensland fast becoming the home of Rugby League in Australia?

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LEADING PLAYER STATISTICS
All Runs Metres
Sam Thaiday 145
Dave Taylor 121
Karmichael Hunt 103
Luke O'Donnell 102
Israel Folau 101

All Runs
Sam Thaiday 21
Willie Tonga 16
Shane Tronc 15
Corey Parker 14
Dave Taylor 14

Offloads
Darren Lockyer 4
Shane Tronc 4
Corey Parker 2
Willie Tonga 2
Sam Thaiday 1

Tackles
Aaron Payne 40
Sam Thaiday 35
Shane Tronc 29
Ben Harris 27
Scott Bolton 26

1-on-1 Tackles
Travis Burns 5
Corey Parker 4
Manase Manuokafoa 4
Peter Wallace 4
Clint Amos 4

Tackle Breaks
Matthew Bowen 6
Dave Taylor 6
Carl Webb 4
Alex Glenn 4
Antonio Winterstein 4

Line Breaks
Andrew McCullough 1
Willie Tonga 1
Carl Webb 1
Alex Glenn 1
Dave Taylor 1

Penalties Conceded
Johnathan Thurston 2
Aaron Gorrell 2
Matthew Scott 2
Willie Tonga 1
Ben Te'o 1

Missed Tackles
Johnathan Thurston 5
Ben Farrar 4
Travis Burns 4
Lagi Setu 4
Willie Tonga 3

Kicks
Johnathan Thurston 7
Peter Wallace 6
Darren Lockyer 6
Aaron Payne 2
Travis Burns 2

Errors
Carl Webb 4
Matthew Bowen 3
Willie Tonga 3
Sam Thaiday 2
Karmichael Hunt 2

Gets
Aaron Payne 71
Johnathan Thurston 64
Peter Wallace 64
Aaron Gorrell 63
Darren Lockyer 42

NRL Stats: Broncos 19 v Cowboys 18
NYC Stats: Broncos 22 v Cowboys 26
Broncos v Cowboys Match Thread


Round 1 NRL Preview & Best Bets
Fri March 13, 2009
Source: www.tabsportsbet.com.au

TAB Sportsbet previews Round 1 NRL action.

Melbourne v St George Illawarra
St George Illawarra will be chasing their first win in Melbourne in a decade when they tackle the Storm at Olympic Park tonight.

While much of the attention has been focused on new Dragons coach Wayne Bennett, the spotlight now shifts to the playing field where St George Illawarra halves Jamie Soward and Ben Hornby will carry a heavy weight of responsibility.

The pair will be expected to direct a new-look outfit which will feature four players on debut for the club. They will confront a Melbourne side which has lost some key men since last season but which retains three of the leading players in the game - Slater, Inglis and Smith - along with high quality halfback Cooper Cronk.

The Storm haven't lost a night-time game at Olympic Park since 2005 and look good things to continue their impressive home record here. Look to Melbourne by a 1-12 margin (paying $3) and for First Tryscorer consider Billy Slater ($9), Steve Turner ($11) or Will Chambers ($13) for the Storm or Matt Cooper ($15), Chase Stanley ($17) or Wendell Sailor ($15) for St George Illawarra.

Brisbane v North Queensland
The Broncos have won their last three matches against the Cowboys but will field a vastly different team to the one that reached the semi-finals last season.

Gone are seasoned stars Tonie Carroll, Michael Ennis, David Stagg, Ben Hannant, Greg Eastwood, Darius Boyd and Denan Kemp - along with veteran coach Wayne Bennett.

Bennett's successor, former Canberra, St George and Western Suburbs halfback Ivan Henjak, has selected seven newcomers in the team that will take on the Cowboys at a sold out Suncorp Stadium tonight.

Three of the newcomers will make their first grade debut, making 22-year-old fullback Karmichael Hunt the senior man among the outside backs.

There is great anticipation in Brisbane over the debut of former Storm star Israel Folau, who has reportedly added yards of pace over the off-season.

The Cowboys are boosted by the return of fullback Matt Bowen and his combination with halfback Johnathan Thurston could hold the key to a successful season for the Townsville-based outfit.

Look to a Cowboys try as First Scoring Play ($2-35) and consider also a Cowboys win by 1-12 points ($3-75).

Players to include in First Tryscorer betting include Karmichael Hunt ($13), Israel Folau ($9) and Jharal Yow Yeh ($13) for the Broncos or Matt Bowen ($11), Ty Williams ($13) or Willie Tonga ($15) for the Cowboys.

NZ Warriors v Parramatta
Huge crowd support will greet the Warriors when they take on Parramatta at Mt Smart Stadium this Saturday night.

Bumper crowds attended the Warriors' trial matches in the Shaky Isles last month and the performances of the team over the latter half of last season has their fans excited for the 2009 campaign. Although he won't play this week, the return of favourite son Stacey Jones has also generated excitement and there will be additional support for popular captain Steve Price, who will become the first Queensland-born player to appear in 300 premiership games.

That support will lift the home team and make like especially difficult for the Eels, who were twice beaten heavily by the Warriors last season.

New coach Daniel Anderson has a good knowledge of the Warriors' methods after almost four seasons as coach of the club earlier in the decade but he faces a huge task to lift the Eels after a mostly disappointing 2008.

The Warriors are capable of running up a win by a 13+ margin ($2-35) despite the absence of a recognised goalkicker in their starting 13.

First Tryscoring chances rest with Wade McKinnon ($11), Manu Vatuvei ($10) and Jerome Ropati ($13) for the Warriors or Jarryd Hayne ($17), Krisnan Inu ($13) or Joel Reddy ($15) for the Eels.

Bulldogs v Manly
The Sea Eagles have copped a torrent of criticism over the past week as the Brett Stewart incident and reports of poor player behaviour have dominated the news.

They can expect to cop more from Bulldogs fans at ANZ Stadium this Saturday night and their clash with the new-look 'Dogs is shaping as a serious test of character for the premiers.

If they can somehow shut out the distractions and challenge the Bulldogs to 80 minutes of pure football then they are every chance of coming away with the two competition points but in light of the events of the past seven days that may be impossible.

The suspension of Stewart detracts seriously from the team's attacking potential; in fact he has been worth almost a try per game for the club since his debut in 2003.

Lock Glenn Stewart has been forced to watch his brother endure a tormented week while second-rower Anthony Watmough has also borne the brunt of intense media pressure.

New Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore has named seven new players in his line-up and has been able to prepare for his first game in charge without any fanfare whatsoever.

All eyes will be on Bulldogs winger Hazem El Masri, who requires seven points to break Andrew Johns' premiership pointscoring record.

Look to a Bulldogs try as First Scoring Play ($2-40) and a Bulldogs win by 1-12 points ($4).

First Tryscoring options consider Jamal Idris ($15), Luke Patten ($13) or Hazem El Masri ($15) for the Bulldogs or Michael Robertson ($13), Jamie Lyon ($13) or Steve Matai ($13) for Manly.

Cronulla v Penrith
Pressure will quickly mount on the shoulders of key Cronulla recruit Trent Barrett if he cannot deliver instant success to expectant Sharks fans this season.

The Shire outfit has been building steadily under the coaching of Ricky Stuart in recent seasons and fans are desperate for the club to take another step towards a maiden premiership title in 2009.

With playmaker Brett Kimmorley moving onto the Bulldogs, the onus is on Barrett to step into the director's chair from day one. He will celebrate his 200th premiership game when he runs onto Toyota Park this Saturday night but it will be immediately down to the business of securing the first two competition points of the season for his team.

Barrett, fresh from two seasons with Wigan, he will be joined by fellow newcomers Corey Hughes and Anthony Tupou, along with teenager centre Blake Ferguson, who will be making his top grade debut.

The Panthers have only one new face in their line-up, 23-year-old second-rower Gavin Cooper who moved south from the Gold Coast.

Look to a Panthers/Sharks outcome in Half/Full Double betting ($6) but stick with the Sharks at the 1-12 margin ($3-10).

Best chances to score the first try are Misi Taulapapa ($13), Brett Kearney ($13) or Ben Pomeroy ($13) for Cronulla or Michael Gordon ($13), Michael Jennings ($13) or Luke Lewis ($17) for Penrith.

Gold Coast v Newcastle
The Gold Coast have distinguished themselves over their first two seasons in the NRL as fast starters. In both 2007 and 2008 they were among the front-running teams in the competition until injuries to leading players cut into their depth.

For their opening game of 2009, the Titans will field their strongest possible line-up, featuring internationals Scott Prince, Anthony Laffranchi, Mat Rogers and Luke Bailey, along with Preston Campbell and Mark Minichiello.

It is apparent that the Titans need their core of stars to remain fit and healthy if they are to make a splash in this competition because of the club's moderate back-up strength. But with the stars in two, the Titans look as competitive as any side in the competition.

Prince remains arguably the second best halfback in the country, while Campbell continues to offer attacking variety that few other clubs can match.

The Knights will find life tough following the departure of leading hooker Danny Buderus and with little addition to their playing roster.

Stick with a Titans try as First Scoring Play ($1-90) and a Gold Coast victory by 1-12 points ($3-10).

For First Tryscorer consider Preston Campbell ($15), Brett Delaney ($17) or Josh Graham ($17) for the Titans or James McManus ($15), Kurt Gidley ($13) or Adam MacDougall ($17) for the Knights.

Sydney Roosters v South Sydney
The Roosters have been among the most inactive clubs in player recruitment over the off-season and their starting line-up for the first game of 2009 is almost identical to the one that finished the 2008 season.

That must be a concern for fans after their team fell away at the end of last year, dropping seven of their last 11 games.

The only newcomer can be found on the Roosters' bench where 22-year-old Fijian forward Sisa Waqa has won an early call-up. The one big name missing from the Roosters' squad is prop Willie Mason, who is close to making a return after last year's knee reconstruction.

The Rabbitohs will be without their biggest name, too, with utility Craig Wing still feeling his way back from off-season surgery.

There is a new look about the South Sydney backline, where recruits Rhys Wesser and Colin Best have secured places, along with 21-year-old centre Shaune Corrigan, who played with feeder club North Sydney in 2008.

This local derby is always fiercely fought but over the past decade the honours have belonged to the Roosters who have won 18 of the last 20 clashes.

Look to a Roosters try as First Scoring Play ($2-05) and a Roosters/Rabbitohs ($7-50) or Rabbitohs/Roosters ($6-50) result in Half/Full Double betting.

Players to consider for First Tryscorer include Anthony Minichiello ($11), Mitchell Aubusson ($15) and Shaun Kenny-Dowall ($11) for the Roosters or Colin Best ($11), Nathan Merritt ($11) or Rhys Wesser ($13) for Souths.

Wests Tigers v Canberra
Monday Night Football did not agree with the Wests Tigers in 2008, with all four of their appearances ending in defeat.

But with a full strength line-up, the Tigers will be favoured to kick off the new season on a winning note against a Canberra side that struggles for form away from home and which has already been gripped by injury concerns.

Missing from this opening round match will be front-rowers Scott Logan, Dane Tilse and Troy Thompson.

New Raiders coach David Furner will be hoping his team can recapture the form that surprised almost everyone last season and catapulted Joel Monaghan and Terry Campese into Australia's World Cup squad.

There will be plenty of interest in the performance of the Tigers' new halfback Benji Marshall, especially in view of all of the attention he received in the media during the off season.

Look to a Tigers try as First Scoring Play ($2) and a Wests Tigers win by 1-12 points.

First Tryscoring options include Chris Lawrence, Benji Marshall or Dean Collis for the Tigers or Joel Monaghan, David Milne or Adrian Purtell for the Raiders.

ROUND 1 NRL TEAMS & STATS

Tue March 10, 2009
• Yow Yeh to make NRL debut for Broncos
  
Tue March 10, 2009
• Bowen and Thurston re-united for Cowboys season opener
  

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