The form guide has been thrown out the window by North Queensland ahead of their NRL elimination final against a lowly rated Brisbane Broncos in Townsville on Saturday night.
The Cowboys may have finished fifth on the NRL table but they are considered premiership dark horses thanks to a four-game winning run sparked by the freakish understanding between five-eighth Johnathan Thurston and veteran fullback Matt Bowen.
In contrast, Brisbane scraped into eighth by snapping a six-game losing run with a last round win over lowly Penrith.
However, Cowboys centre Brent Tate said Brisbane should never be underestimated in a knockout final – and he should know.
A member of the Broncos’ last premiership side in 2006, Tate did not have to be reminded of Brisbane’s uncanny knack of winning finals games.
“You always respect them. They have been a great team for such a long time,” said Tate, who played for Brisbane from 2001-2007.
“Just saying the word ‘Bronco’ commands respect.
“They might have had a few losses but I have a huge respect for them.
“And I know sometimes when you have a win after a few losses all of a sudden training passes start to stick and things start happening for you.
“So everything that has happened before goes out the window. We have to get it right on Saturday night.”
The Cowboys have won both derby clashes this year and were triumphant in the only previous finals clash between the teams – a 10-0 triumph in 2004 that sent Broncos enforcer Gorden Tallis into retirement.
But Brisbane have won an incredible 14 out of 18 games at Townsville’s Dairy Farmers Stadium.
However, another former Broncos favourite son – Cowboys assistant coach Terry Matterson – hoped the Cowboys would finally step out of the shadow of ‘big brother’ with a finals win this weekend.
“I have a great affinity with the Broncos but it was a long time ago I was playing there,” said foundation Bronco Matterson, who played for Brisbane from 1988-95.
“I work for the Cowboys now and we want to create some history like the Broncos – that’s the plan here.”
Matterson said backrower Gavin Cooper had been cleared of a shoulder complaint and claimed inspirational prop Matt Scott was fighting fit after being rested last round.
“It’s sudden death footy with two Queensland teams, it doesn’t get any better than this,” he said.
“We are running into some good form but we know we have to go up a notch in the finals.”
Matterson believed coach Neil Henry faced some “interesting” selection choices after naming Joel Reithmuller and Anthony Mitchell in a 19-strong squad ahead of the must win clash.
