Panthers v Cowboys: Danger signs for North Queensland

Ho hum, another slow start by the Panthers before the juices finally start pumping and they pull out another come-from-behind victory.

As much as it must frustrate coach Anthony Griffin, he would have to love his team's ability to hang in there and finish strongly, but it's certainly an area the Panthers need to address before September when the stakes suddenly go through the roof.

Needless to say, the Cowboys have basically dug themselves such a hole that their next four games against Penrith, the Tigers, Souths and Melbourne are all must-win situations.

The Raiders sensed the home team was vulnerable and showed how much the game meant to their own season, leaving the Cowboys languishing near the bottom of the ladder with a 2-6 record.

We're still waiting for Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan to truly click, while the all-star forward pack is yet to hit its straps over the course of an 80-minute game. Why that is happening is anyone's guess.

The talent and experienceis there; maybe this is the week the Cowboys really get back to being the Cowboys.

Penrith Panthers v North Queensland Cowboys, 7.55pm Friday at Carrington Park, Bathurst

Key match-up: Whichever way you look at it, the standout head-to-head duel lies in the halves between Thurston and James Maloney. Thurston's stats (2nd in try assists, 3rd in line break assists) tell us that he's still playing well, but if he doesn't manage to outwit wily Penrith halfback James Maloney, the Cowboys are likely to slump to their seventh loss in nine games.

For the Panthers to win: The Panthers are facing a team under siege and have to be ready for a Cowboys ambush. It might not eventuate given the Cowboys' poor form, but they shouldn't forget the revenge factor after thumping last year's grand finalists in Townsville in round four.

For the Cowboys to win: It's hard to understand why this team is having so much trouble scoring (15.5 points per game). If they can bring out the best in their backs, the Cowboys can pose problems for the Panthers out wide.

Panthers stat attack: Hooker Peter Wallace is due to play his 100th game for Penrith, making him the 26th player all-time to play 100 games for two clubs. Wallace played 139 games for the Broncos.

Cowboys stat attack: The Cowboys have lost their past four away games and scored just 124 points in eight matches this season. On the plus side, winger Kyle Feldt has a tidy strike rate against the Panthers with five tries in their past five meetings.

And another thing: Halfback Nathan Cleary is due back from a knee injury soon. Not many pundits expected the Panthers to make much noise without Cleary, but they are equal second on the ladder and Griffin is likely to have the pleasant problem of fitting the 20-year-old star back into a winning team soon.