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The big winners from Round 1 after a dominant performance against the Dolphins, North Queensland are back at home to face a Knights side hurting from a first-up defeat to the Raiders.

Under the guidance of former premiership-winning half James Maloney, who has taken on the role of club attack coach, the Cowboys played an expansive brand that included scoring four times after running it on last tackle against the 'Phins in a 43-18 win.

Newcastle on the other hand fell to a disappointing 28-12 defeat in front of a sold-out crowd at McDonald Jones Stadium, with a bad collapse in the final 20 minutes seeing them leak three tries.

After being ruled out at half-time last week with a quad injury Enari Tuala misses the game and Thomas Jenkins earn his first appearance for the Knights after signing from the Panthers over the off-season.

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Team News

Cowboys: The home side remain 1-17 on game day with coach Todd Payten having the luxury of naming the same side who led an impressive win over the Dolphins to launch the season. Tom Mikaele is 18th man. 

Knights: No late changes for the Knights on game day. Former Panther Tom Jenkins plays his first game for the Knights in place of Enari Tuala (quad). Englishman Kai Pearce-Paul has been promoted to the starting side after a strong showing off the bench in Round 1. Brodie Jones is 18th-man while co-captain Jayden Brailey (hamstring) remains sidelined.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
    Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
  • Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt
    Winger for Knights is number 2 Thomas Jenkins
  • Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine Holmes
    Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
  • Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Zac Laybutt
    Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
  • Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
    Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
  • Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom Dearden
    Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble
  • Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend
    Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings

Forwards

  • Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean
    Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
  • Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
    Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
  • Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jason Taumalolo
    Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
  • 2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Heilum Luki
    2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
  • 2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
    2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul
  • Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter
    Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott

Interchange

  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Jake Granville
    Interchange for Knights is number 14 Jack Cogger
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Griffin Neame
    Interchange for Knights is number 15 Daniel Saifiti
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Sam McIntyre
    Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
    Interchange for Knights is number 17 Jed Cartwright

Reserves

  • Replacement for Cowboys is number 19 Thomas Mikaele
    Replacement for Knights is number 18 Brodie Jones

Match Officials

  • Referee: Adam Gee
  • Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
  • Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Cowboys have not opened with consecutive wins since 2017.
  • The Knights have not won in Townsville since 2015.
  • Cowboys centre Valentine Homes requires 12 points for 1,000 NRL points.
  • The Knights have failed to score more than 20 points in their past 11 games in Townsville.
  • Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt requires one try to equal Matt Bowen’s club try scoring record.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.

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National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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