NRL Friday: Cowboys v Sea Eagles, predictions & odds, round 11, 2020

Welcome to our preview of North Queensland v Manly-Warringah at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Friday, July 24.

This is the earlier match of two on Friday night, with the Brisbane Broncos v Melbourne Storm match at Suncorp Stadium to follow at 7.55pm.

We have decided to focus on the Cowboys-Sea Eagles match as we think it will be the more competitive of the two and because the Cowboys have been in the news, parting company this week with coach Paul Green, who in 2015 coached the team to their first NRL title.

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READ: NRL match betting previews and tips
Round 11 NRL title odds update and fixture
NRL Thursday: Parramatta v Wests Tigers betting preview, tips
NRL Saturday: Canberra Raiders v South Sydney Rabbitohs betting preview, tips
NRL Sunday: Gold Coast Titans v Penrith Panthers betting preview, tips

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Former Cowboys player Josh Hannay is the caretaker coach, and this match is another test of that phenomenon in which an underperforming team which has just sacked its coach produces its best form and often has a win straight after the coach has departed. This happens in most sport, not just NRL.

So the young and inexperienced Cowboys are coming off a creditable performance against ladder leaders Penrith last Sunday where they lost 22-10 and never gave up.

Meanwhile, last Saturday night the injury ravaged Manly stunned Parramatta 22-18 at Lottoland to stay in the race for the finals.

The Cowboys have star prop Jordan McLean (calf) close to fit again and he could be a late inclusion, while the Sea Eagles regain prop Addin Fonua-Blake returns from suspension, with Taniela Paseka moving back to the bench.

The last time these two teams met, Manly came from 20-12 down at half-time to win 22-20 in Townsville.

Read on for our best bets and winner prediction for the Cowboys v Sea Eagles clash at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Friday, July 24.

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Cowboys v Sea Eagles odds

Kick-off: 6pm local time
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Head to head odds: North Qld $2.20, Manly-Warringah $1.68
Line betting: North Qld (+2.5 points) $1.90, Manly-Warringah (-2.5 points) $1.90
Match total: 41.5 points: over $1.90, under $1.90

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Cowboys v Sea Eagles free betting tips

Below our NRL betting expert has highlighted his free tips for the Cowboys v Sea Eagles clash.

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Cowboys v Sea Eagles prediction

We’re putting a lot of faith in the ”bet on the team that has sacked the coach” theory, but also the Cowboys really stepped it up in defence against the Panthers and they were good at home in beating the strong Newcastle Knights a few weeks back. Our final selection: NQ Cowboys by four points.

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Cowboys v Sea Eagles lowdown

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