NRL Saturday: Cowboys v Raiders betting tips, prediction & odds, round 7, 2021

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Read on for our North Queensland Cowboys v Canberra Raiders match preview, prediction and odds update for their NRL clash at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville, on Saturday, April 24.

The Cowboys have breathed a tiny bit of life into their season with back-to-back wins against Wests Tigers and bottom side Canterbury, but Ricky Stuart’s Canberra represented a much tougher proposition.


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Canberra have won four of the past five meetings between these two teams, though their clash in round 12, 2020, went down to the wire with the Raiders winning 14-12 in Townsville after leading 8-6 at half-time.

That is is not to say the Raiders are over the line in this one, even if the bookies rate them as short as $1.28 favourites and rate the $1.90 points line at 10.5.

The Raiders have lost their past two matches against quality opposition in Penrith and Parramatta, both among the premiership frontrunners this season.

Stuart is an angry man at the best of times and if his Raiders lose this one to slip to 3-4 for the season, he will be apoplectic.


Cowboys v Raiders team news for round 7

The home team has stuck with the 17 that gave them a 30-18 win over the Bulldogs last Sunday at this venue. They still don’t have star second-rower Jason Taumalolo available but he could return from his hand injury in the Cowboys’ next match against the NZ Warriors.

The Raider have lost star hooker Josh Hodgson (calf) and while they have a readymade replacement in young Tom Starling at hooker, Hodgson is a real on-field leader and crucial to their attack, as we saw in his absence last season.

Prop Josh Papali’i has been switched back to the bench, with recruit Ryan James coming back from a week off and slotting straight into the front row.

Stuart dropped lock Joseph Tapine to the reserves while Emre Guler starts in the front row.

Sebastian Kris has been named on the wing in place of Bailey Simonsson (head knock).

Read on for our Cowboys v Raiders tips and winner prediction for their NRL clash on Saturday, April 24.


Cowboys v Raiders

Kick-off: 7.35pm local time
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Head to head odds: North Queensland $3.75, Canberra $1.28
Line betting: North Queensland (+10.5 points) $1.85, Canberra (-10.5 points) $1.95
Match total: 40.5 points: over $1.90, under $1.90


Cowboys v Raiders free betting tips

Below our NRL betting expert has highlighted free NQ-Canberra tips for Saturday night’s game.

Cowboys +12.5 points/match total over 40.5

The Raiders just have too much chopping and changing to have great confidence in them covering a sizeable line. TopSport is offering this double even though the straight-up points line is at just 10.5 and that’s enough to get us in. The Cowboys are not a great side at the moment but they are a decent opponent on their home soil.

Kyle Feldt 2+ tries at $9

The giant winger is one of the greatest try scorers in Cowboys history. He has had a sluggish start to the season with one try from four matches but expect him to be on the end of most of the Cowboys back-line moves. We recommend a small bet only but he will do for us up against an inexperienced winger.


NQ Cowboys v Canberra Raiders prediction 24-4-2021

There is a lot at stake in this clash, mainly for the Raiders. A couple of weeks ago they were right in the discussion for a top-four spot and being talked about as a serious contender, but now they really need an easy win to get back on the right side of the ledger. The Cowboys have shown they are better than a bottom-two side and a win here could have them dreaming of challenging for the bottom part of the eight. As mentioned we don’t like the unsettled nature of the Raiders line-up but with a solid halves combination of Jack Wighton and George Williams they should be able to scrape in. Our Cowboys v Raiders prediction: Raiders by 2 points.


Cowboys v Raiders lowdown

How can I watch the North Queensland-Canberra clash?

Fox League and KAYO will telecast the game.

How can I bet on the Cowboys v Raiders clash?

All of the top International betting sites will offer markets on the NRL.

What time does the NRL Round 7 Cowboys v Raiders game start?

The match kicks off at 7.35pm aest

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