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The North Queensland Cowboys had no trouble backing up from State of Origin during the week to smash the Newcastle Knights by 30 points on Saturday.
REPORT: COWBOYS TOO GOOD FOR KNIGHTS
Final score
North Queensland Cowboys 46
Newcastle Knights 16
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The two narratives couldn’t be more vastly different when the North Queensland Cowboys host the Newcastle Knights in Round 13. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 5:30pm (AEST).
Coming into the midway point of the season, the reigning premier Cowboys are once again in strong contention to finish up the pointy end of the table, while the Newcastle Knights sit in last place and have earnt the unwanted tag among some of being the worst team ever.
While the Cowboys don’t sit right on top of the table, they have been there at various points this season and are certainly not far off – just four points behind joint leaders the Cronulla Sharks and Melbourne Storm who both had byes last weekend.
The Cowboys had to travel to Wollongong and take on the St George Illawarra Dragons and while it was a brave effort from an understrength line-up, they went down by four. That can’t be looked to for form though – it simply isn’t a good guide.
The Knights on the other hand have won just a single game of their first 12, also managing to draw one against the Canberra Raiders leaving them on three competition points – three behind nearest rivals the Sydney Roosters.
They have a for and against of negative 263 and while they have been a little more impressive over the last fortnight against the Wests Tigers and Parramatta Eels, neither match resulted in a win, and their defence still wasn’t up to scratch.
In team news, all of Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Michael Morgan and James Tamou have been named to back up from Origin with Javid Bowen, Jahrome Hughes, Coen Hess and Ray Thompson the players to miss out.
Newcastle come into the match with a six-man bench having dropped Akuilla Uate for Dane Gagai to fit back into the side. Korbin Sims is also out with Jeremy Smith in at lock and both David Bhana and Pat Mata’utia added to the bench.
There is almost no question the result of this comes down to the fatigue in the North Queensland forward pack after an absolutely gruelling and physical Origin match, and also the Knights ability to control Johnathan Thurston and his kicking, passing and creative game play.
If the Cowboys forwards come out of the blocks though, the game will be over in the first 20 minutes.
Prediction
The Cowboys could put their reserve grade team on the field and you still couldn’t convince me to tip Newcastle. This is going to be ugly.
Cowboys by 34.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores and coverage of this Round 13 match from 5:30pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below as the action unfolds in Townsville.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde