Battler's NRL Round 14

Newcastle v North Queensland

It’s not Monday yet, but the game I want to discuss is the MNF game up at Townsville. The line opened at a pickem, then went off the board due to Origin. When the line was put back up, Newcastle were slight favourites, indicating to me that there was some money placed on the Knights before Wednesday. Since then, it has drifted back out to a pick, and now Newcastle are slight dogs at some books.

I’m thinking the logic is this: JT is cleared to play, he found form against NSW and now he is out of his funk, yada, yada.

I don’t think JT found form against NSW – I think he found Scott Prince. Unlike game 1, Thurston had a foil – he didn’t have to have a hand in every play.

When Thurston left the Dogs (as a 5/8) he was basically told to run this NQLD team, and has done an admiral job. But I still think his best role is as a 5/8, where he can pick and choose when to insert himself, when to run, when to kick etc. Now back at the struggling Cowboys, what is his role?

He’s back to the halfback (nee only option) role, but with no real targets. I like JT, but when things don’t go his way, he is easily frustrated, especially when his team is chasing points. So who’s his foil on Monday……

Well, at 5/8 is former Knight Daniel Abraham. Good backrower, solid footballer and all round nice guy, but he is not a 5/8. Bowen? No. O’Donnell, not there either. Justin Smith? Nup. Burns? Nup. I doubt the Knights will be shivering at the fact that they are facing Abes at pivot.

So if the Knights shut down JT, how are the Cowboys going to hurt them?

I think the Knights should beat the Cows pack, and cannot see how they won’t be far too strong on Monday. Big game for the Knights, with a chance to reach 0.500, I can’t see Smithy letting that be lost on his chargers.

Newcastle ml @ $1.92 (5)