Expert
League fans are in for a grand final rematch in week two of the NRL Finals, with the North Queensland Cowboys hosting the Brisbane Broncos in Townsville. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEST).
These two sides just seem to put on an epic match every time they go up against each other, and while everyone remembers last year’s superb grand final, when the Cowboys won by a point, neither team are in the same form this time around.
The Broncos finished the regular season on a high, winning five straight matches, including a strong victory away from home against the Melbourne Storm, before taking on the Gold Coast Titans last weekend.
Whatever you thought of that match and the controversy that surrounded it, there is no questioning the Broncos were the better side as they took a 44-28 win.
The Cowboys, on the other hand, also came into the finals on a winning streak but it was less than convincing after a slump through the middle stanza of the season.
They won three straight before the finals kicked off and it was just enough to get them into the top four, securing a crucial double chance.
The luck stopped there for the Cowboys, though, as the defending premiers were out-muscled by a Melbourne Storm outfit with a vast weight of possession and went down by six points.
It would appear the key battle for this match is in the forwards, or, more importantly, whether the Broncos can stop the human wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo. He has been making close to 200 metres week in and week out and is a danger every time he touches the football.
At the same time, the Broncos chances of victory are down to their halves, Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt. The Broncos’ attack has been up and down – much like their form throughout the season – and whether they can score enough points hinges on their playmakers.
There’s plenty of big team news to report on. For the Broncos, James Roberts has been suspended for kicking Ryan Simpkins during Brisbane’s win last week, while the Cowboys have been dealt a massive blow with Ethan Lowe being ruled out for the season with a spinal injury.
Antonio Winterstein has also been ruled out of the match through injury, with exciting North Queensland youngster Kalyn Ponga set to make his NRL debut on a massive stage.
Prediction
The Cowboys should get the job done up the middle, and with their spine playing well enough they should win the match. It’s going to be incredibly close, though, and these teams always put on a cracking match.
Cowboys by 1.
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Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde