The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys travel to Brisbane to face the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Magic Round.
1. MAC AND MUZ
Veteran front-rower Jordan McLean and star winger Murray Taulagi are set to return from hamstring injuries to face the Bunnies. McLean comes straight back into the starting side at prop, with Tom Mikaele moving to the bench. Taulagi replaces Semi Valemei on the wing, with Valemei set for a stint on the sidelines after ankle surgery.
2. WEEKEND OF MAGIC
The Cowboys have won their previous two Magic Round fixtures, taking their overall record to 2-2 on the NRL’s glamour weekend. North Queensland upset the Roosters 20-6 at Magic Round in 2023, following on from the 36-12 triumph over the Wests Tigers in 2022. The Cowboys and Rabbitohs met in the first ever Magic Round, with Souths winning 32-16.
3. RIVALS DOWN SOUTH
The Cowboys ended a seven-match losing streak to South Sydney last season. North Queensland’s 31-6 victory in Round 17 was their first over the Bunnies since the 2017 season. Souths lead the overall match-up 21-18.
4. STATS UPDATE
Scott Drinkwater continues to rack up attacking statistics, with the Cowboys fullback leading the NRL with 12 line-break assists as well as ranking third in both offloads (18) and try assists (9). Valentine Holmes sits fourth with 86 points, just four behind competition leader Reuben Garrick. Chad Townsend has the second most try assists in the competition with 11 and tops the NRL with three field goals. Reuben Cotter (424) and Reece Robson (415) both sit inside the NRL’s top five tacklers.
