Expert
It’s perform or perish in the NRL’s Queensland derby as the battling Brisbane Broncos take on a desperate North Queensland Cowboys outfit in Townsville tonight. Join us from 7.30pm AEST for live scores and updates.
Whilst games between these two teams are always big affairs, tonight’s clash is sure to have some extra spice as the loser may as well start planning for next year.
With just six wins each some would argue that the horse may have already bolted, but where there’s life there’s hope, and both Brisbane and North Queensland fans will be hoping for something special tonight.
Prediction
Both teams are coming off a bye in round 19, and have taken the chance to have a good hard look at themselves in the mirror.
Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin has wielded the axe, with Ben Hunt being elevated from the bench to the halfback role, the Parramatta bound Corey Norman set to play Intrust Super Cup and Alex Glenn moving out to the centres.
Such a radical shake-up this late in the season is a significant gamble for the Broncos, and it will be interesting to see if their new look spine can give them the spark they’ve so sorely lacked.
In the Cowboys camp coach Neil Henry would be relieved to have back his Origin stars, in particular his on-field general Johnathan Thurston who will look to link up with partner in crime Matt Bowen who returns from injury tonight.
These clashes tend to be entertaining, end to end affairs and that’s likely to be the case again tonight.
Whilst the two teams looking just about even the Cowboys in their two wingers in WInterstein and Faifai Loa have a significant edge over their young Bronco opposites, and you can expect the radar like boot of Thurston to use this to his advantage all night.
I’m tipping the Cowboys by four.