Our best bet for Thursday's NRL Round 23 clash between the Gold Coast Titans and North Queensland Cowboys is the Cowboys -2.5 / Each Team Over 16.5 / Burns to Score Same Game Multi at $5.25, with the Cowboys facing all four remaining opponents below them on the ladder and eager to bounce back from last week's 82-12 hammering.
The Titans and Cowboys kick off Round 23 of the NRL this Thursday at Cbus Super Stadium, with both eager to bounce back from heavy losses last week.
Gold Coast Titans vs North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland are the definition of mercurial.
In their last five matches, they have three wins, one of which was by a 14-point margin over the competition leaders. But their two losses were heavy, with the most recent an 82-12 thrashing at the hands of the Roosters.
The Titans have also been up and down, beating the Panthers in mid-June, racking up 38 points against both the Dragons and Sea Eagles, yet getting comfortably beaten by the Bulldogs and Warriors.
Leg 1 - Cowboys -2.5
Despite becoming the first team to concede 80+ points since the 1930s, the Cowboys still have a great chance at making the top eight.
Their four remaining matches are all against teams lower than them on the ladder. Expect their coaching staff and senior players to be aware of this opportunity and have pushed hard for a reset to occur this week.
We should see a much improved side come out and put away the Titans with ease, as they have done in each of the last three meetings between these two teams.
Leg 2 - Each Team Over 16.5 Points
Neither side has stellar defence this season, with 220 points leaked between them over the last three rounds.
While their attacks have been hit-and-miss, a lack of coherence on defence should lead to plenty of chances for both teams and a relatively high-scoring match.
Leg 3 - Braidon Burns to Score
Burns has been one of the Cowboys' most consistent performers this season, scoring 13 times from 16 matches.
He bagged one down the edge last week despite scant opportunity, and with increased ball this week he should cross over again.
Same Game Multi
Cowboys -2.5 / Each Team Over 16.5 / Burns to Score = $5.25
Value Bet
Taumalolo averages one try every eight matches across his NRL career.
In 19 appearances this season, he's yet to score, making the big Cowboys lock well overdue.
Against a team with one of the competition's weakest defences, and in a match where his side will be desperate to bounce back strong, Taumalolo to score is excellent value.
