North Queensland Cowboys vs Penrith Panthers
18th September 0900hrs
Rugby League – Australia – NRL
Pick Penrith -16 handicap
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: 11/10 odds taken 02:02 GMT on Thursday, September 17th
The Penrith Panthers are pretty much the minor premiers for the season as it’s unlikely that they are going to get overtaken with two to play.
That would mean them losing their last two games and the Melbourne Storm winning their final two. The first part of that equation doesn’t fit at all.
Basically they need one more win to secure top spot.
The Panthers are taking on the North Queensland Cowboys on Friday, who are third from bottom in the ladder.
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North Queensland Cowboys Preview – Cowboys with a lot on their plate Friday
It has been just the one win in the last five fixtures for the North Queensland Cowboys. It is a lack of any scoring threat that has hampered them badly.
Last weekend they suffered a 20-36 defeat against the Melbourne Storm, the Cowboys giving a fairly good account of themselves there.
But only once in their last four league fixtures have they managed to score more than 20 points in a game.
The Cowboys are currently W4 L14 for the season and are third from bottom in the ladder, but safe from the wooden spoon realistically.
Going back to the points scored by the Cowboys this season, there is a wide gap between what they have produced and what the Panthers have come up with.
North Queensland are averaging 18 points per NRL game this season, in contrast to an average of 25 per game from the Penrith Panthers.
So they do not match there. Nor do they in defence. The Cowboys are averaging 26 points per game against them and Penrith just 12.
A North Queenlsnad +14 handicap is coming in at the line for 21/20* (odds taken 02:02 GMT on Thursday, September 17th).
Penrith Panthers Preview – Panthers look to keep momentum rolling
Even though they are going to get the title of minor premiers this season, Penrith can’t take their foot off the gas.
There was a big post-season coming up for them and they moved on to a W16 D1 L1 record last weekend with an emphatic win over the Parramatta Eels in a big clash.
That was a 20-2 win for the Panthers who again, impressed so much with their defensive work.
In none of their last five league games have the Panthers conceded more than 12 points in a single fixture. It’s highly impressive stuff and they have massive Premiership claims come to the post-season.
They are the obvious odds-on favourites for the match win here and a Panthers -16 handicap option is at 11/10* (odds taken 02:02 GMT on Thursday, September 17th).
The Panthers and the Cowboys met for the first time this season just back in the middle of July and Penrith posted a 22-10 win over North Queensland.
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Penrith Panthers have gone W3 L2 in their last five against North Queensland, actually suffering back to back losses against them prior to that July win.
But they are just formidable at the moment and are going to take some stopping in this one.
That is in spite of the fact that they have managed to win only one of their last seven games played in Townsville.
Still under the current climate of things, the away win looks something of a banker in this one.
North Queensland Cowboys vs Penrith Panthers Betting Advice
The win for the Panthers has to be in the picture here and we can see it coming by a comfortable margin.
The -16 handicap on them at 11/10 odds-against is a decent enough place to start, because as mentioned, defensively they have been rock solid* (odds taken 02:02 GMT on Thursday, September 17th).
A win here gets the Panthers the minor premier title.
Key Facts – North Queensland Cowboys vs Penrith Panthers Betting Tip
- North Queensland Cowboys have won just 4 times this season
- North Queensland Cowboys have won 2 of their last 3 against Penrith
- Penrith Panthers will be crowned minor premiers with a win on Friday
The Cowboys are better than what their current standing is, as it hasn’t been a great season for them because of injuries.
But the wins are not there currently and they are probably going to get picked off across the course of 80 minutes.
A Panthers 11-20 winning margin is at 2/1 odds* (odds taken 02:02 GMT on Thursday, September 17th).
If the Cowboys manage to get more than 12 points on the board, that will be something of a positive for them against the ladder leaders.
The best betting odds for North Queensland Cowboys vs Penrith Panthers
North Queensland Cowboys to win: 9/2 at Bet365
Draw: 28/1 at Bet365
Penrith Panthers to win: 2/13 at Bet365
