Five years ago, the Broncos and Cowboys staged one of the great grand finals of the modern era.
On Thursday night they meet again in a 14th v 16th clash that few would have predicted at the start of the season.
As bad as the Broncos have looked at times, they will join the Cowboys on eight competition points with a win.
If they lose and the Bulldogs also win this weekend, North Queensland will finish the year in a share of last place. That's motivation enough for the men from Townsville to finish the year with a victory.
Match: Broncos v Cowboys
Round 20 -
home Team
Broncos
16th Position
away Team
Cowboys
14th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The rundown
Team news
Broncos: The Broncos are 1-17. Kotoni Staggs is set to start at five-eighth, with Tyson Gamble dropping out after his head knock last week and Jesse Arthars coming in at centre. Prop Payne Haas has returned after a week off with personal leave bumping Ben Te'o to the bench and Ethan Bullemor to the reserves.
Xavier Coates will start on the wing with Corey Oates reverting to the interchange. Jordan Riki will return from suspension in the back row with David Fifita out injured. The Broncos have won five of their past six games against the Cowboys.
Bullemor and Sean O'Sullivan were cut from the reserves 24 hours before kick-off while Brodie Croft and Rhys Kennedy were omitted an hour before game time.
Cowboys: A late switch in the back row with Tom Gilbert to start and Gavin Cooper moving to the bench. Centre Daejarn Asi was ruled out on Wednesday with a knee injury and his place is taken by Justin O'Neill in jersey No.21.
Josh McGuire will return from suspension at prop while Jason Taumalolo is named at lock after getting through his injury comeback last week.
Corey Jensen and Francis Molo have reverted to the interchange alongside the returning John Asiata with Emre Pere and Ben Condon dropping out.
Jake Granville and Condon were the last two players cut an hour before kick-off.
The Cowboys have lost nine of their past 10 games at Suncorp Stadium.
Match: Broncos v Cowboys
Round 20 -
home Team
Broncos
away Team
Cowboys
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Darius BoydFullback for Cowboys is number 1 Valentine Holmes
-
Winger for Broncos is number 2 Xavier CoatesWinger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt
-
Centre for Broncos is number 3 Jesse ArtharsCentre for Cowboys is number 3 Murray Taulagi
-
Centre for Broncos is number 4 Herbie FarnworthCentre for Cowboys is number 21 Justin O'Neill
-
Winger for Broncos is number 5 Richard KennarWinger for Cowboys is number 5 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
-
Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Kotoni StaggsFive-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Scott Drinkwater
-
Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Tom DeardenHalfback for Cowboys is number 7 Jake Clifford
Forwards
-
Prop for Broncos is number 8 Joe OfahengaueProp for Cowboys is number 8 Josh McGuire
-
Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Issac LukeHooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reuben Cotter
-
Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne HaasProp for Cowboys is number 10 Jordan McLean
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Jordan Riki2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Mitchell Dunn
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Alex Glenn2nd Row for Cowboys is number 15 Tom Gilbert
-
Lock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick CarriganLock for Cowboys is number 13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Cory PaixInterchange for Cowboys is number 11 Gavin Cooper
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Ben Te'oInterchange for Cowboys is number 14 John Asiata
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Corey OatesInterchange for Cowboys is number 16 Corey Jensen
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Jamil HopoateInterchange for Cowboys is number 17 Francis Molo
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Peter Gough
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
Tom Dearden v Jake Clifford. It's never easy for halfbacks to shine when their forward packs are being outplayed. Dearden has provided one of the few bright points from the Broncos playing group this year. Clifford will be hoping to become a more consistent contributor in 2021. He and the Cowboys both need it.
Stat attack
With seven wins between them in 2020, only two other sides (Dragons and Bulldogs) have fewer wins on their own. Even the Titans, for so long the strugglers among the Queensland sides, have eight wins in the shortened season.
