Johns blasts North Queensland Cowboys as NRL struggles continue
Rugby League immortal Andrew Johns has slammed the North Queensland Cowboys, saying the side many had predicted to win the competition are a “shell” of the team that made the 2017 Grand Final.
The Cowboys started the season as one of the favourites to take out the title, but after 10 rounds sit in 14th spot on the ladder with just three wins.
They face the prospect of needing to win eight or nine of their final 12 matches just to sneak into the top eight.
That looks like an uphill task with matches against fifth-placed Souths this weekend and fourth-placed Melbourne next week.
“What we’re doing is judging the Cowboys on the last couple of years’ performances,” Johns told Wide World of Sports.
“They are not the same team that won the grand final three years ago, and they’re not the same team that made that big run last year in the semis.”
Johns is tipping the Rabbitohs to continue to the Cowboys misery when the two sides meet on Saturday.
“They (Souths) are absolutely flying, and the area the Cowboys are struggling is in the middle, and I think the Rabbitohs will blast through them.
“Their attacking style will trouble the Cowboys out wide. The Cowboys are just a shell of a team compared to the last couple of years.”
Another team struggling with just three wins this season are the Bulldogs, but Johns is expecting them to put up a fight against the Sharks, live and free on Nine on Sunday from 3pm.
“I like the Sharks, they’re hard to beat at home and they’ve got a great day record, especially at Cronulla.
“They won’t have it all their own way though. The Bulldogs scrap and work hard for each other, I’ll go the Sharks in a real tight one.”
Premiership winning coach Phil Gould continues to lead the Wide World of Sports tipping ladder, opening up a five point lead over Johns.
Gus
Panthers
Eels
Roosters
Knights
Rabbitohs
Sea Eagles
Dragons
Sharks
Joey
(watch the video)
Locky
Panthers
Eels
Broncos
Titans
Cowboys
Sea Eagles
Dragons
Sharks
Freddy
(watch the video)
Sterlo
Panthers
Warriors
Roosters
Knights
Rabbitohs
Storm
Dragons
Sharks
Wally
Panthers
Eels
Broncos
Knights
Cowboys
Storm
Dragons
Sharks
Leaderboard
Gus - 47
Joey - 42
Locky - 41
Freddy - 39
Sterlo - 37
Wally - 36
