Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns says the Cowboys must “aim up” against the Dolphins on Friday, after a start to the season described as “awful” by Brad Fittler.
North Queensland were tipped by many experts to be a top-four team in 2023, having reached the preliminary final in 2022.
But they’ve won just two of their opening five matches, and languish in 14th spot on the ladder.
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Of concern will be losses to the Warriors and Bulldogs, two teams that have improved significantly in 2023 but who are not expected to be in contention for the premiership.
Similarly, the Cowboys scraped home by a point against the struggling Raiders, with their other win coming against the Titans, another team hardly regarded as a heavyweight.
“Cowboys have got a fair few out, and geez they’ve been treading water,” said Johns, before pointing out the Dolphins, who won their first three, have hit something of a hurdle in recent weeks due to injury.
“The Dolphins are missing their starting halves in Sean O’Sullivan and Anthony Milford.
“Cowboys, surely they aim up and win here.”
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Fittler agreed that the Cowboys have underperformed so far, but noted they’d been battling injury problems of their own.
“They’ve been going awful,” Fittler said.
“They lose Heilum Luki, (Reuben) Cotter is back, and (Scott) Drinkwater. So their attack will be better, that will give them some points.”
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Round 6 tips by Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler and all Nine’s expert tipsters!
Brad Fittler: Roosters, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Panthers, Broncos, Dragons, Warriors, Eels
Andrew Johns: Roosters, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Panthers, Broncos, Dragons, Knights, Eels
Danika Mason: Storm, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Panthers, Broncos, Titans, Knights, Eels
Wally Lewis: Storm, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Panthers, Broncos, Titans, Warriors, Eels
David Middleton: Storm, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Panthers, Broncos, Dragons, Knights, Eels
Michael Chammas: Roosters, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Panthers, Broncos, Titans, Warriors, Eels
The Mole: Storm, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Panthers, Broncos, Dragons, Warriors, Eels
Billy Slater: Storm, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Sea Eagles, Broncos, Dragons, Warriors, Eels
Mat Thompson: Storm, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Panthers, Broncos, Dragons, Warriors, Eels
Darren Lockyer: Storm, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Panthers, Broncos, Dragons, Warriors, Eels
James Bracey: Roosters, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Panthers, Broncos, Titans, Knights, Eels
Peter Psaltis: Storm, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Panthers, Broncos, Titans, Warriors, Eels
Ben Glover: Roosters, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Panthers, Broncos, Titans, Knights, Eels
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