North Queensland Cowboys vs. Newcastle Knights

It’s a funny game, rugby league. Four weeks ago all and sundry, including yours truly, had written off North Queensland’s finals hopes after their narrow loss to Brisbane. But three successive wins later, along with several other results falling their way, and the Cowboys are only two points outside the top eight. If North Queensland continue on their winning way on Saturday – and Brisbane, Canberra and the Titans all lose – Neil Henry’s men will be sitting in eighth spot with only two rounds remaining. What a turnaround that would be. Newcastle, of course, will be no pushover – they thrashed the Cowboys 34-6 in round three and have won their past three away matches. But the Cowboys have momentum – and one J.Thurston – on their side.

Apart from wondering where he might end up next season, North Queensland coach Neil Henry must be asking himself one question - why couldn’t the Cowboys produce this kind of form earlier? Most teams bounce back a week after their coach is sacked. Few put together a string of wins that put them back in the finals hunt when their dumped coach opts to see out the season. Henry has done his best impersonation of his rival coach Wayne Bennett since getting the axe, proving an ice-cool foil for a team that has won three straight to keep alive their faint finals hopes. But seventh-placed Newcastle - armed to the teeth with backline firepower - loom as the Cowboys’ toughest hurdle yet on the finals path.

Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen. The veteran has shown glimpses of his old brilliance but must will his deteriorating knees to lift another gear in what looms as his final year if North Queensland are to have a finals sniff.
COWBOYS: Matthew Bowen, Kyle Feldt, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Robert Lui, Matthew Scott (capt), Ray Thompson, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Glenn Hall, Joel Riethmuller. Interchange: Rory Kostjasyn, Tariq Sims, Scott Bolton, Ricky Thorby, Ethan Lowe (one to be omitted).
KNIGHTS: Darius Boyd, James McManus, Dane Gagai, Joey Leilua, Akuila Uate, Jarrod Mullen (capt), Tyrone Roberts, Kade Snowden, Danny Buderus, Zane Tetevano, Robbie Rochow, Beau Scott, Alex McKinnon. Interchange: Kurt Gidley, Chris Houston, Neville Costigan, David Fa’alogo.