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Brisbane Broncos vs North Queensland Cowboys highlights: NRL Final scores, blog

12th September, 2015
Kickoff: 7:55pm (AEST)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
TV: Live, Nine Network
Betting: Broncos $1.60, Cowboys $2.40
Overall record: Played 41, Broncos 28, Cowboys 11, drawn 2
Last meeting: Round 10, 2015 - Cowboys 31 defeat Broncos 20 @ 1300 Smiles Stadium
Last five: Cowboys 3, Broncos 2
Record at venue: Played 13, Broncos 7, Cowboys 6
Record in finals: Played 3, Cowboys 3, Broncos 0
Referee: Gerard Sutton, assistant Gavin Badger

Brisbane Broncos
1. Darius Boyd, 2. Corey Oates, 3. Jack Reed, 4. Justin Hodges (c), 5. Jordan Kahu, 6. Anthony Milford, 7. Ben Hunt, 8. Sam Thaiday, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Adam Blair, 11. Alex Glenn, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. Corey Parker
Interchange
14. Jarrod Wallace, 15. Mitchell Dodds, 16. Joe Ofahengaue, 17. Kodi Nikorima

North Queensland Cowboys
1. Lachlan Coote, 2. Kyle Feldt, 3. Justin O'Neill, 4. Kane Linnett, 5. Antonio Winterstein, 6. Michael Morgan, 7. Johnathan Thurston (c), 8. Matthew Scott (c), 9. Jake Granville, 10. James Tamou, 11. Gavin Cooper, 12. Ethan Lowe, 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange
14. Rory Kostjasyn, 15. John Asiata, 16. Scott Bolton, 17. Ben Hannant, 18. Ray Thompson, 19. Matthew Wright
The Cowboys head to Brisbane to take on the Broncos. (www.photosport.co.nz)
Expert
12th September, 2015
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Match Results:

Brisbane Broncos 16
North Queensland Cowboys 12

One of the games of the season in the second qualifying final at Suncorp Stadium has seen the Brisbane Broncos take a hard fought four point victory over the North Queensland Cowboys.

The pace of the game tonight was incredible from both sides and made it a wonderful game to view. There really wasn’t a lot between the two sides and that showed up in the final scoreline of what was an incredibly hard fought game.

There is no question now, that after a game like that the week off for the Brisbane Broncos will be much needed and the Cowboys will be hoping and probably needing the Rabbitohs and Sharks to bash each other around in a similar way to tonight’s game.

The Broncos best on ground would have been Ben Hunt. He played an exceptional kicking game and controlled things when needed for the Broncos, trying to give his forwards appropriate rest which was an important part of the puzzle in a game played at such a pace. Hunt also had the right levels of creativity and didn’t overplay his hand.

Anthony Milford also really sprung to life in the second half and could well have been the difference in the end, along with the spark provided off the bench by Kodi Nikorima.

Sam Thaiday, Adam Blair, Matt Gillett and Corey Parker were also among the best on ground with brilliant go forward for the Broncos.

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The Cowboys were no without their fair share of players that played exceptional games tonight either, with Johnathan Thurston for the most part leading the way. That was despite a couple of brain fades which led to poor kicks at crucial time and along with the effort of Milford in the second half could have proved to have been part of the difference in the game.

Michael Morgan was also exceptional on ground, with Justin O’Neill adding a lot from the centres. Ben Hannant, Jason Taumalolo, James Tamou and Jake Granville also played well tonight and kept the Cowboys close to the Broncos right throughout the game.

The Cowboys wasted a lot of opportunities throughout the first half, having 21 tackles in the Broncos own 20 metre zone and only having a penalty goal to show for it.

The Broncos opened the scoring with a penalty goal before the only try of the first half was scored in a great individual effort by Ben Hunt. He got the ball 40 metres out with the Broncos on a roll before he dummied and stepped his way around the defensive line and scored under the posts.

The frustration of not being able to score got to the Cowboys as they took a penalty goal of their own and brought the gap back to a converted try.

After the break, it was clear the Cowboys had to be the first to score which they did through Antonio Winterstein. The try came off a Broncos error and Johnathan Thurston was able to quickly organised his attacking line and caught the Broncos line napping.

After missing the conversion though, the Cowboys were still two points down and the game re entered a period where no one looked like scoring.

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Anthony Milford then scored for the Broncos off a break from the first run of Kodi Nikorima. It looked like it might have been enough to put the result beyond doubt, however you can never rest against the Cowboys.

When Johnathan Thurston scored with just 8 minutes to go off a Justin O’Neill kick and some innovative play it was game back on.

However, the Cowboys were never able to score again, the Broncos defence holding solid.

An incredible game then sees the Broncos have a week off and the Cowboys host the winners of tomorrow’s Cronulla Sharks and South Sydney Rabbitohs clash. By far one of the games of the season tonight though, the Broncos winning by four.

Match Preview:

The second qualifying final in the 2015 NRL finals sees the North Queensland Cowboys travel south to take on the Brisbane Broncos in a Queensland derby. Join The Roar for our live coverage of the match from 7:30pm (AEST).

The Broncos missed out on the minor premiership last weekend when they made a mess of a match against the Melbourne Storm. While they were without star half Ben Hunt, there were plenty of worrying signs for Brisbane throughout the game.

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However before that they recorded a big win against the South Sydney Rabbitohs and went down in a nail-biter to the Sydney Roosters. You would like to think the Broncos will play a little bit more like that against the Cowboys tonight with a spot in the preliminary finals on the line.

Meanwhile the Cowboys enter the finals off the back of a barnstorming win over the Gold Coast Titans. However before that they lost three of their previous four games, against the Cronulla Sharks, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Melbourne Storm – all teams that finished inside the top eight. You have to wonder where the Cowboys’ form is.

Both teams have some massive inclusions for this match. For the hosts, Hunt is back from injury, which will see Ashley Taylor miss out. Alex Glenn and Jordan Kahu are also back, at the expense of David Stagg and Lachlan Maranta.

The Cowboys welcome Michael Morgan back ahead of schedule, pushing Ray Thompson back to 18th man, with Matthew Wright added in jersey number 19. Ben Hannant will also go back to the bench with Jason Taumalolo starting at lock.

For the Broncos to win they need to play as they did against the Rabbitohs, rather than relying on defence and generally playing a majority of the game in their own half as they have throughout the year. If they do that here, Johnathan Thurston, Michael Morgan and Lachlan Coote – North Queensland’s own ‘Big Three’ – will put the Broncos to the sword.

The Broncos’ key is Anthony Milford, who will be able to play a more creative style with Hunt back in the side.

The loser of this match plays the winner of the Sharks versus Rabbitohs clash, while the winner has the week off.

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Prediction
With Morgan returning the Cowboys look too strong. The Broncos play a style that suggests the Cowboys will run all over them and I will tip them to do exactly that.

Cowboys by 10.

Join The Roar for live coverage of this match from 7:30pm (AEST), and don’t forget to add your thoughts in the section below.

Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde

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