North Queensland host Brisbane to kick off Round 20 and with both teams sitting on sixteen competition points, a loss here would definitely spell the end of the season for the losing side.
The similarities between the two sides continue with both coming of the bye last week and recording only two wins from their past nine matches.
The advantage may lay with the home-side who, despite only being able to register three wins from the seven homes games thus far this season, still better Brisbane’s poor away record of three from nine. The Cowboys also hold a 4-2 winning record over Brisbane since 2011 including the last two matches played at this venue.
With five of their last seven games at home, the Cowboys have the opportunity here to keep whatever hope they may have of making the finals this year, alive.
Brisbane, who won three of their first six games – including a win over the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium (12 – 6), have struggled since and during the Origin period particularly.
They’ve only been able to crack the twenty point mark twice in the past nine games and whilst the return of their Origin starts will be welcomed, the Cowboys at home will be hard nut to crack.
Odds comparison by NRL Odds:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Nth Queensland Cowboys | 1.50 | 1.56 | 1.53 | 1.56 | 1.50 | 1.55 |
|
Brisbane Broncos
|
2.60 | 2.45 | 2.55 | 2.45 | 2.60 | 2.50 |
Teams:
Nth Queensland Cowboys:
1 Matthew Bowen
2 Kalifa FaiFai Loa
3 Brent Tate
4 Kane Linnett
5 Antonio Winterstein
6 Johnathan Thurston (c)
7 Michael Morgan
8 Matthew Scott (c)
9 Anthony Mitchell
10 James Tamou
11 Gavin Cooper
12 Glenn Hall
13 Dallas Johnson
Interchange
14 Ray Thompson
15 Joel Riethmuller
16 Ricky Thorby
17 Ashton Sims
18 Scott Bolton
19 Jason Taumalolo
Coach: Neil Henry
Brisbane Broncos:
1 Josh Hoffman
2 Corey Oates
3 Alex Glenn
4 Justin Hodges
5 Lachlan Maranta
6 Scott Prince
7 Ben Hunt
8 Ben Hannant
9 Andrew McCullough
10 Josh McGuire
11 Sam Thaiday (c)
12 Matt Gillett
13 Corey Parker
Interchange
14 Peter Wallace
15 David Stagg
16 Mitchell Dodds
17 Lama Tasi
18 Dumamis Lui
Coach: Anthony Griffin
