- 1 Cowboys vs Rabbitohs: hard to read, so it has to be good
- 2 The Cowboys get dangerous again when it all clicks
- 3 The Rabbitohs slide back into old habits
- 4 A match that could spiral out of control
- 5 NRL prediction Cowboys vs Rabbitohs
- 6 Before anything else, a note on our predictions
- 7 No obligation on our part
- 8 Information that changes
- 9 Your role
- 10 Responsible gambling first
- 11 Legal age
- 12 About the images…
Cowboys vs Rabbitohs: hard to read, so it has to be good 
The return to Townsville probably gives us one of the most unpredictable matches of this State of Origin-heavy stretch. The Cowboys and Rabbitohs can go from brilliant to dreadful in the space of a week, which makes this one a nightmare to call.
North Queensland do, though, come in off a huge result after their surprise win over the Roosters at Magic Round. South Sydney, by contrast, were poor against the Dolphins and arrive badly weakened, with several key absentees.
With two teams this inconsistent, the script could flip in any direction very quickly.
The Cowboys get dangerous again when it all clicks 
The Cowboys reminded everyone at Magic Round why they are such a horrible team to face when they are on song.
The win over the Roosters was not just impressive on the scoreboard. North Queensland showed real grit in a difficult setting. Two trips to the sin bin, heavy defensive pressure from the opposition and no Tom Dearden… and still they dug in and got it done.
This side can still rip through a match the moment momentum swings its way.
Scott Drinkwater remains central to almost everything good they do in attack. His work around the ruck, his support play and his knack for creating something out of nothing make this a very awkward side to contain when they get moving.
The issue, as always this season, is consistency.
The Cowboys can beat pretty much anyone over 80 minutes… then vanish completely the following week. That is what makes this so tough to pick.
The absence of Reuben Cotter for State of Origin also hurts them in the middle, where his engine and defensive workload are not easy to replace.
Still, at home and in the heat of Townsville, North Queensland are more than capable of setting the tempo.
The Rabbitohs slide back into old habits 
For the Rabbitohs, the frustration keeps coming.
After a few encouraging displays in recent weeks, South Sydney completely blew it against the Dolphins. Wayne Bennett himself admitted after the game that his side never managed to build any real continuity.
And that is exactly the big problem with the Bunnies this season.
When South Sydney find their attacking rhythm, they can be electric. But once the intensity drops, or the game turns physical, their shape disappears fast.
This week gets even tougher with the absences of Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray.
Losing Murray takes a huge amount of balance out of the middle, while Latrell’s absence strips away a big chunk of the Rabbitohs’ creativity and punch in attack.
That does not mean South Sydney are harmless, though.
Cody Walker can still unlock a defence on his own, and the outside backs can cause damage if the match opens up. But without several leading figures, this side looks a lot more vulnerable.
The real worry is their inability to put together two big performances in a row. Every time it looks like the Rabbitohs are building something, they follow it up with a complete mess.
A match that could spiral out of control
That is probably what makes this one so appealing.
Both teams have attacking talent, but neither gives you much confidence over 80 minutes. With State of Origin absences, injuries and wildly uneven form all in the mix, this could get chaotic in a hurry.
Townsville is still a tough trip, especially for a side as unpredictable as South Sydney.
The Cowboys know they have a real chance to keep climbing despite the missing bodies, while the Rabbitohs are simply trying to avoid another collapse after last week’s poor showing.
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NRL prediction Cowboys vs Rabbitohs
Rabbitohs over 24.5 points
Even with the injuries, the Rabbitohs still have enough attacking quality to find gaps in a Cowboys defence that is always capable of switching off.
South Sydney’s games are often open, fast and a bit of a mess. That sort of contest suits a side that likes to play quickly and exploit space.
If this turns into a track meet, the Bunnies can get past 24 points.
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Information that changes
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About the images…
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