XXXX Things You Need To Know - Round 15 v Raiders

The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys travel to Canberra to face the Raiders at GIO Stadium on Friday evening.

1. ORIGIN REPS RETURN

After missing last week’s game through respective injuries sustained during the opening game of the State of Origin series, Murray Taulagi and Reece Robson return for the Cowboys tomorrow night. Taulagi has been something of a talisman for the Cowboys in 2024, with North Queensland winning six of the eight games Taulagi has appeared in, but losing five of the six games the winger has missed.

2. RAISING THE BAT

Robson will celebrate his 100th game in Cowboys colours when he runs on to GIO Stadium tomorrow. The 25-year-old becomes the 32nd player in club history to register a century of appearances. Robson’s durability has been remarkable during his tenure in North Queensland, appearing in at least 23 games in each of the previous three seasons.

3. THRIVING THE COLD

Canberra may be produce contrasting conditions to North Queensland, but the Cowboys have enjoyed a recent run of success in the Nation’s Capital. The Cowboys have won three consecutive games in Canberra, with their last loss coming in 2018. North Queensland have won their previous four meetings head to head with the Raiders, including a 19-18 victory in Round 1 last season.

4. STATS UPDATE

Valentine Holmes has dropped to second on the NRL point-scoring table with 120 for the season, four behind Zac Lomax. Jeremiah Nanai sits fourth with 10 tries. Chad Townsend and Scott Drinkwater remain tied for second with 15 try assists, while Drinkwater leads the competition with 18 line-break assists and three 40-20s. Reuben Cotter sits second with 552 tackles.