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Sydney Roosters vs North QLD Cowboys NRL Round 16 Tips - Who said defence wins games?

Ryan Tucker

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Last updated: Thu 19 Jun 2025 16:26

Ryan Tucker 19 Jun 2025

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Sydney Roosters vs North QLD Cowboys expert predictions for Sunday’s Round 16 NRL game
Kick off is at 4:05 PM (AEST) at Allianz Stadium
High-scoring game expected between Roosters and Cowboys.
Cowboys struggling defensively, conceding 34.6 points over last 6 games.
Key predictions: Roosters to score first; Mark Nawaqanitawase, Daniel Tupou to perform well.

Sydney Roosters vs North QLD Cowboys NRL Round 16 Tips

Sydney Roosters vs North QLD Cowboys, Round 16 2025 - Expert Prediction

This matchup is expected to be high scoring so we are jumping on a heap of tryscorers to see if we can build up the kitty!

Sydney Roosters vs North QLD Cowboys, Round 16 2025 - Expert Prediction
Head to Head
Sydney Roosters Form Analysis & Betting Trends
Recent Form
2025 Betting Trends
Sydney Roosters Team News
Sydney Roosters Team List
North QLD Cowboys Form Analysis & Betting Trends
Recent Form
2025 Betting Trends
North QLD Cowboys Team News
North QLD Cowboys Team List
Sydney Roosters vs North QLD Cowboys NRL 2025 Round 16 FAQ’s

The Cowboys have been leaking points worse than an old BMW that hasn’t been serviced in years. 34.6 points per outing to their opposition over their last 6 games and while players have been in and out due to Origin, injury and suspension it is difficult to see how they magically fix the problem. Only three times this season have they kept an opposition under 20 points.

The Roosters didn’t trouble the scoreboard attendant all that much last weekend but averaged 33.6 pts per game in the 5 previous matches even putting 20+ points past the Dogs and Canberra in losses. Their defence has been spotty and the Cowboys we know can turn it on to score when they want.

Take the Game Total to go Over, Roosters to score first through Mark Nawaqanitawase as he has done in 2 of the past 3 matches with Daniel Tupou to also pick up a four pointer.

The Roosters are 4th in Linebreaks against the Cowboys Defence that are ranked 17th.
North Queensland have allowed 34.6 pts per game to opponents over their last 6 games, the most of any team in the NRL.
The Sydney Roosters have scored first in 11 of 13 games played this season. The Cowboys have allowed the first try in 9 of 13 games.
Mark Nawaqanitawase has scored 9 times so far in 2025, he has also scored the first try in 2 of the last 3 games and in 3 games total this season.
Daniel Tupou has scored 6 tries in 2025, 2 of those the first try of the game.

Head to Head

The Roosters own a 5-3 win record against the Cowboys dating back to the start of the 2019 season but the Cowboys have won 2 in a row with single matchups in 2024 and 2023.

The Game Total has gone Under in 5 of 8 matches while the Winning Margin has been 13+ points in 6 of 8 games played with an average number of 14.1 pts.

Sydney Roosters Form Analysis & Betting Trends

Recent Form

Last 5 W/L	Last 5 ATS	Last 5 O/U
3-2	3-2	3-2

The Roosters snuck out of Newcastle with another win despite having a number of players out of the team. The 12-8 come from behind victory puts them in the top 8 for the first time this season but they are the only team with a negative points differential (-18).

Sydney battled with a lack of possession and field position throughout the matchup but relied on their tough goalline defence allowing just 1 try to the Knights despite 40 tackles Inside 20m zone.

The Roosters make the 2nd most Tackles of any team in that red zone area but are good at repelling attack having the 4th ranked Opposition Tryscoring Efficiency with a try every 11.5 tackles (league average 10.2)

2025 Betting Trends

ATS	Over/Under	1-12	13+
6-7	7-6	4-4	2-3

Sydney Roosters Team News

A heap of changes in the Roosters squad this week. All the Origin players have been named. Dom Young has moved back to the Knights which sees Mark Nawaqanitawase named on the wing and Robert Toia in the centres.

Egan Butcher and Victory Radley are both out with concussion protocols. Benaiah Ioelu remains in the 17.

Sam Walker’s return has been delayed yet again with the thumb injury he picked up last week at training keeping him out from this matchup.

Sydney Roosters Team List

1. James Tedesco

2. Daniel Tupou

3. Billy Smith

4. Robert Toia

5. Mark Nawaqanitawase

6. Sandon Smith

7. Hugo Savala

8. Lindsay Collins

9. Connor Watson

10. Naufahu Whyte

11. Angus Crichton

12. Siua Wong

13. Salesi Foketi

Interchange

14. Benaiah Ioelu

15. Zach Dockar-Clay

16. Blake Steep

17. Spencer Leniu

Reserves

18. Ethan King

19. Makahesi Makatoa

20. Tom Rodwell

21. Taylor Losalu

22. Chad Townsend

23. Xavier Va'a

24. Jake Elliott

North QLD Cowboys Form Analysis & Betting Trends

Recent Form

Last 5 W/L	Last 5 ATS	Last 5 O/U
1-4	1-4	4-1

Wow. The Cowboys were bashed up good last weekend by the Dolphins, 58-4 putting them in the category of “teams that concede 50 in a season have never won a premiership”.

Granted, a good portion of their team was on the sidelines but 1090 Run Metres, Linebreaks 2-11 to the opposition. 31 Tackles Inside 20m for just the 1 try but the big one - 51 missed tackles, just a poor effort all around.

North Queensland have now won just 1 of their last 6 games (1 draw) and have conceded an average of 34.6 pts through that period, the most of any team in the NRL.

2025 Betting Trends

ATS	Over/Under	1-12	13+
6-7	8-5	4-2	1-5

North QLD Cowboys Team News

All the Origin players have been named to start. Viliami Vailea and John Bateman also return from suspension. Braidon Burns and Jake Clifford make way for the returning contingent as do Karl Lawton, Kaiden Lahrs and Tom Duffy.

North QLD Cowboys Team List

1. Scott Drinkwater

2. Robert Derby

3. Zac Laybutt

4. Viliami Vailea

5. Murray Taulagi

6. Jaxon Purdue

7. Tom Dearden

8. Jordan McLean

9. Reece Robson

10. Coen Hess

11. John Bateman

12. Jeremiah Nanai

13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange

14. Harrison Edwards

15. Sam McIntyre

16. Griffin Neame

17. Thomas Mikaele

Reserves

18. Jake Clifford

19. Karl Lawton

20. Kai O'Donnell

21. Kaiden Lahrs

22. Braidon Burns

23. Thomas Duffy

24. Marly Bitungane

Sydney Roosters vs North QLD Cowboys NRL 2025 Round 16 FAQ’s

How to watch Sydney Roosters vs North QLD Cowboys NRL 2025 Round 16?

You can watch the Sydney Roosters vs North QLD Cowboys NRL 2025 Round 16 game via Fox Sports or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside of Australia the WatchNRL app is the perfect solution.

How to buy tickets to Sydney Roosters vs North QLD Cowboys NRL 2025 Round 16?

To buy tickets to the Sydney Roosters vs North QLD Cowboys NRL 2025 Round 16 game check the NRL website or the official Sydney Roosters site.

Verdict

Sydney Roosters v North QLD Cowboys

Take the Game Total to go Over, Roosters to score first through Mark Nawaqanitawase as he has done in 2 of the past 3 matches with Daniel Tupou to also pick up a four pointer.

Over 48.5

Game Total

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