NORTH QUEENSLAND TOYOTA COWBOYS v BRISBANE BRONCOS NYC
5.20pm (Qld), Friday 20 March, Suncorp Stadium
Tickets: ticketek.com.au
Live updates: twitter.com/nthqldcowboys
Referee: Jarrod Cole
Sideline officials: Nick Pelgrave, Damian Brady
Times: Gates open 5.15pm | NRL Cowboys v Broncos 7.35pm
TEAMS
Cowboys: 1. Yamba Bowie 2. Gideon Mosby 3. Akeripa Tia Kilifi 4. Conor Carey 5. Scott Schulte 6. Ty Carucci 7. Cooper Bambling 8. Viliame Kikau 9. Brandon Smith 10. Braden Uele 11. Coen Hess 12. Andrew Niemoeller 13. Kieran Quabba (c). Interchange: 14. Trey Kemp 15. Jordan Kenworthy 16. David Munro 17. Ross Bella.
Broncos: 1. Paul Byrnes 2. Jarryd Dodd 3. Jordan Drew 4. Jayden Nikorima 5. Nikau Terupe 6. Jacob Gagai 7. Ash Taylor 8. George Fai 9. Jayden Berrell 10. Tim Wolens 11. Jaydn Sua 12. Alex Barr 13. Jai Arrow. Interchange: 14. Kalolo Saitua 15. Keegan Hipgrave 16. Sa LAvea 17. Lindsay Collins.
MATCH FACTS
- Both sides have won their opening two NYC matches.
- Last season the Cowboys lost their two matches against the Broncos.
- Cowboys Braden Uele and Brandon Smith have three tries each heading into the third round.
- North Queensland has the second-best defensive and attacking record in the competition.
GAME CHANGERS
The kicking game will be pivotal to both sides. Broncos number seven Ash Taylor has one of the best short kicking games in the competition and can keep a side bogged down on their own goal line with repeat sets.
Cowboys half Cooper Bambling will be called upon to get his side down the field and put pressure on the Brisbane backs.
COACH'S VIEW – NYC coach Todd Payten: “This will be another big test for us to see where we're at. Two unbeaten teams and two Queensland teams obviously adds a little more intensity to the clash. The boys have trained really well this week and it’s going to be a great contest.”
