The Cowboys are finally back on the winners list, thumping the New Zealand Warriors by 28 points on Saturday night.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Cowboys 34
Warriors 6
The roller coaster that is the New Zealand Warriors cross the ditch to face the roller coaster that is the North Queensland Cowboys. Join The Roar from 7:30pm (AEST) for live scores and coverage.
Both these sides have brilliant attacking potential and have scored well over 450 points this season.
In their history they have played a number of nail-biters mixed with blowouts and there doesn’t seem to be a defined hometown advantage – so it’s hard to tell what we are in for.
North Queensland were motoring along in the top four until a run of three straight losses to the Storm, Tigers and Roosters ruined any thoughts of the double chance. They were convincing losses too, not showing much in attack and being dominated defensively.
Now they sit sixth and if they don’t get their act together, could end the season as low as eighth.
Cowboys fans won’t like to hear it, but the fortunes of their team are well and truly reliant on the strength of Johnathan Thurston’s hamstring. He tweaked it in the loss to the Storm and there is a school of thought that he was brought back too early and isn’t playing at 100 per cent. That, combined with opposition defences getting up at him as quickly as they can, has caused serious problems for the Cowboys’ attacking intentions.
The Warriors all but blew their 2016 chances last week with an abject 80 minutes against South Sydney, going down at home 41-22 and losing touch with the Titans and their only realistic chance of making the finals. Whether this affects their attitude to the game or not, time will tell.
The Kiwi side hasn’t made wholesale changes, with only Bunty Afoa and James Gavet added for the trip across, with Tui Lolohea dropped.
The home side have the key inclusion of try-scoring winger Antonio Winterstein, who replaces an unlucky Javid Bowen. Coen Hess takes the place of John Asiata.
While the battle of superstar halves Thurston and Shaun Johnson will be foremost in everyone’s minds, it is the unsexy match-up of Jason Taumalolo and Simon Mannering that will go a long way to deciding this one. Both are powerful ball runners and their ability to get their hands on the halves and cause mayhem will be critical to the result.
New Zealand have a lot of firepower in Solomone Kata, Thomas Leuluai, Johnson and Manu Vatuvei, but too often this attacking potential is not realised.
Prediction
Believe it or not, the Warriors have won their last two games in Townsville. That trend comes to a shuddering halt tonight as the Cowboys rediscover their attacking mojo. There are just too many weapons for the home team to be kept quiet for a fourth straight week.
Cowboys by 26.
Will the Warriors cause the upset or can the Cowboys get back on track? Join us from 7:30pm (AEST).
Griffo
Guest
Cowboys have the bulldogs next week. Beat them and they're back in the top 4, and 4th is much, much better than 5th.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Well, I suppose it is possible. But I am starting to think that it may be time for me to find a new second favourite team.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
I don't know if the Warriors need a miracle at all; they have the Tigers and Eels (both at home) while the Titans have Penrith (home) and Cowboys (Townsville) which are hard games. Not in control of their own destiny, but that has been the case for a while.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Yeah, I just had a look at the table and technically, the Titans still need one more victory to seal the top 8 closed. But for all intents and purposes, they are in. The Warriors and Tigers would need a proper miracle to get through and if they are going to hand out miracles, there are many more deserving places in the world right now that need it.
AJ Mithen
Expert
That's it from Townsville, thanks for joining in. There's still a lot of live sport going on at The Roar so head to the homepage and take your pick (unless you're a Wallabies fan that is)
AJ Mithen
Expert
I think so Sleiman. Warriors and Tigers have filthy for/againsts and are now 3 points back anyhow. Now it's just who will line up where. The Cowboys will want to get 5th or 6th to stay at home.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
So the top eight is settled, I think. Now it's just the order. Right?
AJ Mithen
Expert
VOTES 3: Jason Taumalolo - He dominated this game from the outset, scoring a try and making 203 metres in total. He is a fantastic player and when on song, he is very hard to stop. 2: Johnathon Thurston - Three try assists, three linebreak assists, 5/6 with the boot... The Warriors gave him too much time, and look what happened... 1: Michael Morgan - Scored one, enabled one, was solid in defence and was the perfect foil for Thurston. Job done. Special mentions - James Tamou, Ethan Lowe, Scott Bolton, Simon Mannering How did you see it folks - let's have your views!
AJ Mithen
Expert
Amen
AJ Mithen
Expert
FULLTIME STATS POSSESSION: Cowboys 60%, Warriors 40% LINE BREAKS: Cowboys 4, Warriors 2 PENALTIES: Cowboys 6, Warriors 3 TACKLES: Cowboys 256, Warriors 367 RUN METRES: Cowboys 1614, Warriors 1013 ERRORS: Cowboys 10, Warriors 13
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
You can always rely on the Warriors.
AJ Mithen
Expert
Agree Sylvester. Can't play like this every few weeks and be a chance.
AJ Mithen
Expert
Someone should have told them that Planko, they looked shot.
AJ Mithen
Expert
FULL TIME: COWBOYS 34, WARRIORS 6 North Queensland have ground down a very poor New Zealand side in Townsville. The game was over in the first half and six tries to one was the damage. The result gives the Cowboys an outside chance at the top four, they go to Belmore on Thursday to face the Bulldogs, an incredibly difficult ask on short rest. As for the Warriors, their season is cooked and they have no one to blame but themselves. Poor handling, no intensity and they just kept handing the ball back to the Cowboys and looked barren in attack. I pinged Shaun Johnson who was poor - he ended up with a lower leg (maybe quad) injury late in the game and that's the last thing his team needs. How did you see it Roarers - did the Cowboys make you think they'll be a threat come finals?
AJ Mithen
Expert
79′ Lost ball by Sam Lisone and this game will finish as it started. Cowboys 34 Warriors 6
AJ Mithen
Expert
78′ Touch judge flags the Warriors kick went out of bounds - it did, off the hand of Lachlan Coote. Chance for a try on the siren for the visitors if they can hold the ball... Cowboys 34 Warriors 6
AJ Mithen
Expert
76′ PENALTY COWBOYS Getting scrappy as we come to the end of this one. Vatuvei's hit will be looked at during the week, I don't imagine he'll get suspended for taking O'Neil out using a shoulder as play ran on. Cowboys 34 Warriors 6
AJ Mithen
Expert
74′ Let's try for some New Zealand positives. Thomas Leuluei has played well, I like the look of yound Afa Hingano (he's copped some rough calls) and Simon Mannering has made 69 tackles and missed zero. While I was typing that, the Cowboys thought they'd scored but the ball was called back. Now we're looking to see how illegal Vatuvei's shot on O'Neil was... Cowboys 34 Warriors 6
Joe
Roar Rookie
Manu needs to hang up the boots.
AJ Mithen
Expert
71′ Feldt knocks on what was a sure try. Tough grab around his bootlaces. The Warriors are gone, gone, gone. Cowboys 34 Warriors 6