Preview: Cowboys v Broncos

VENUE & TIME: Dairy Farmers Stadium, Friday August 28, 7.35pm (AEST).
COVERAGE: Channel 9
LAST TIME: Broncos 19 - Cowboys 18 at Suncorp Stadium, Round 1, 2009.

WALKING WOUNDED: The Cowboys have suffered a massive blow with star full-back Matt Bowen to undergo radical knee surgery that could keep him out of the game for up to 10 months. He was initially expected to play the Cowboys' final two games of the year before undergoing the procedure, but the club has now decided against that. He joins Clint Amos (knee), Aaron Payne (shoulder) and John Williams (groin) on the Cowboy casualty list.
The Broncos are virtually back to full-strength with big Israel Folau chosen in the centres following seven weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury. Former Test prop Joel Clinton returns from an ankle injury on an extended bench.

FORM: The Cowboys blew their second-straight half-time lead in Newcastle last Saturday night to all but bow out of the finals race. After leading 22-8 at the break, the Cowboys simply couldn't hack the lift in intensity levels from the fast-paced Knights in the second 40 minutes. Three weeks ago the Cowboys were sitting in fifth spot with a decent points differential, they now find themselves out of the finals mix in 11th.
While the Cowboys' season has taken a turn for the worst, the seventh-placed Broncos are moving in the opposite direction after securing their third-straight win against the premiership favourites. It beggars belief how the Broncos could leak 56 points against the lowly Raiders a month ago then turn it all around to keep the might of the Dragons try-less last Friday night. With much of their top side back on deck, who knows what Ivan Henjak's rejuvenated troops could produce come finals time.

WHO'S HOT: It's a shame Johnathan Thurston had a poor second half against the Knights last week after producing such a fine opening 40 minutes. He scored two tries - including the sneakiest four-pointer ever - and set up another for centre Willie Tonga with a well-weighted in-goal grubber. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, he was thoroughly outplayed by opposite Jarrod Mullen after the interval.
Big Dave Taylor proved he is more than just a battering ram in Wollongong last Friday night, producing an eye-catching performance in the unfamiliar position of left centre. The Redfern-bound hulk used all of his power to score a fine left-edge try in the first half, then later on in the game displayed his silky passing skills to send winger Antonio Winterstein over. Taylor moves back into the pack this week to accommodate the return of Folau in the centres.

WE THINK: The Broncos have returned to the sort of form that saw them win six of their opening seven games of the season, while the Cowboys must be deflated after bowing out of the finals race. With no Bowen and Payne in the Cowboys line-up, expect the Broncos to smother Thurston, thus shutting down North Queensland's attack. There has also been an air of vulnerability about the Cowboys up the middle of late. The Broncos have won their past four games against their Queensland rivals and Dairy Farmers Stadium holds no fear for them, winning 12 of 14 matches at the ground. Broncos by 14.

TEAMS
North Queensland Cowboys:
Ty Williams, Shannon