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The Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys do battle for the first time since their epic 2015 grand final decider. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8.00pm AEDT.
As one of the most eagerly anticipated match-ups of the season, expect a high quality contest between two teams most likely to meet again come finals time.
The Cowboys made history last season by winning their first premiership. They also condemned Brisbane to their first ever-grand final defeat after six victories.
After playing out arguably the finest NRL decider in recent memory, the Cowboys will be keen to secure their third straight victory over the Broncos away from home.
The Broncos are coming off a surprise defeat to the Panthers last week and will need to improve considerably if they are to keep the Cowboys at bay.
The Cowboys themselves haven’t clicked into top gear as yet, but a 40-0 demolition of the Roosters last week suggests that they are on the verge of doing so tonight.
Although Jonathon Thurston remains the key figure for the Cowboys in attack, spare a thought for Lachlan Coote. The former Panthers fullback is in career best form and a good performance from him will go a long way to securing victory for North Queensland.
The Broncos meanwhile will once again rely on their formidable forward pack. Led by Corey Parker, Brisbane’s pack has become adept at instigating second phase play courtesy of consistent offloading. There is nothing that opposition defences hate more than allowing forwards to offload in the tackle, so the Cowboys have to make their tackles stick or risk Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt causing havoc up the middle of the park.
With Brisbane still missing key personel such as Corey Oates, the Cowboys do possess an edge in strikepower. The playmaking spine of Coote, Thurston and Michael Morgan is the best in the NRL, and on form, should get the job done tonight for North Queensland.
Cowboys by 10