NRL Round 26 Preview and Prediction - North Queensland Cowboys v Brisbane Broncos @ 1300 Smiles Stadium

North Queensland Cowboys (7th) v Brisbane Broncos (3rd) @ 1300 Smiles Stadium
 
Preview - It's a Queensland Derby Blockbuster in the final round of the season as the Cowboys and Broncos lock horns with plenty at stake at 1300 Smiles Stadium. The Cowboys put a halt to their 4-game losing streak with a gutsy come from behind 24-16 win over the Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium. Despite securing their 13th win of the season, the Cowboys place in the finals is far from secure, with the Dragons a real threat of knocking them out of the Top 8 if they fail to beat the Broncos. The Broncos will be looking to rebound from an embarrassing 54-32 loss to Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium. The loss was costly for the Broncos with the Roosters leapfrogging them into 2nd spot in the bid to host a final in Week 1 of the playoffs. 
 
History - The history between the teams is remarkable with 5 games going into extra time over the past couple of years. Despite these sides playing in a number of classics, it is often the Cowboys that have had the better of the Broncos for the last few clashes, winning in the previous three meetings between these sides. Earlier this season a Johnathan Thurston field goal in Golden Point was enough to break the Broncos’ hearts once again. The last time these sides met in Townsville was in Week 2 of the finals last year, where the Cowboys once again came over the top, beating the Broncos in extra time. 
 
North Queensland Cowboys’ Scouting Report - The Cowboys finally have been able to stem the bleeding, naming an unchanged side from the starting 17 that got the job done against the Tigers last week. Te Maire Martin had a great game in attack, however will need to work on his goal-line defence against some of the Broncos’ big back rowers. 
 
Brisbane Broncos’ Scouting Report - The Broncos have made a few changes from the side that got embarrassed at home last week by the Eels. In a blow to their forward stocks, Korbin Sims has been ruled out for the season with a broken arm. However the Broncos are boosted by Joe Ofahengaue returning from suspension and Tevita Pangai Junior returning from injury, along with reliable outside back and goal kicker Jordan Kahu. 
 
Verdict - Broncos by 10-18

I see the Broncos bouncing back from their horror show against the Eels and getting a victory here. The Cowboys will lift for the big derby, however I think they are barely hanging on despite their victory against the Tigers. It took 70 minutes of that game for the Cowboys to really spring to life, and they can't afford to be that quiet against a Broncos’ side that will be desperate to avenge a shocking start previously. I expect these teams to be equally desperate and the game to be close for 60 minutes, but I just think Brisbane have all their troops fit and available and that will be the difference in the end as they win by a couple of tries, which could well end the Cowboys season.