Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater expects the injury hit Broncos to provide the biggest test so far for the unbeaten competition leaders in Friday night's Queensland derby.
North Queensland have recorded their best start to a season since 2006 after beating the Dolphins, Knights and Dragons in a perfect opening to their premiership pursuit.
In contrast, the Broncos have just one win, against last placed South Sydney, and the 2023 grand finalists will be without injured stars Reece Walsh and Payne Haas, while Adam Reynolds remains in doubt for the Easter Friday clash.
However, Broncos-Cowboys clashes have historically been tenacious, high-octane and expansive affairs, and Drinkwater said that whoever pulls on a Brisbane jersey will rise to the occasion.
“They probably won’t be too happy with what they did against Penrith, they look a bit depleted, but its a ‘XXXX derby’," Drinkwater said.
"It's the major Queensland rivalry so no matter who’s playing that one, its always a really good hit-out and they turn up ready to go.
“Its going to be a really good contest, it's always a clean contest, both teams just compete hard and there's not a lot of nonsense about it.
"I love playing at Suncorp, it’s a great stadium and there will be 40,000 people there. It's always great to play the Broncos and they’ll be up for the challenge."
Drinkwater kicks a 40/20
Drinkwater has kicked off his 2024 campaign in style, averaging 164 running metres per game, while also racking up three try assists and 14 tackle breaks, to help the Cowboys sit alone at the top of the premiership ladder.
But despite their positive start to the season, Drinkwater believes there is plenty of improvement needed after conceding 24 points in a high-scoring affair at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium last Saturday.
The creators: Scott Drinkwater
“We haven't played our best footy, there's still a lot to work on but we won’t complain with having six points on the board already," Drinkwater said.
"There’s big improvement in us, I believe. We didn't start well [against the Dragons] so we've got to work on our starts. We also didn't start well against Newcastle either, so there's a few things we need to work on there."
The Cowboys accredit their impressive start to the season on a concerted effort during the pre-season to become a fitter team, with improved physical conditioning coming into this year's Telstra Premiership.
Scott Drinkwater Try
After beating the Knights in extra time and coming from behind to down the Dragons, Cowboys coach Todd Payten said his team had a better preparation for their premiership tilt than in recent seasons.
“We have had an extra seven weeks together in the pre-season period so everyone’s a little bit fitter than where we were last year," Payten said.
"Things could have been different last week, but it’s important you can win those games and that does great things to your confidence."
The Cowboys left-edge attack is reaping the rewards of their pre-season work, with centre Valentine Holmes surpassing 1000 career points with an 18-point haul in the 46-24 defeat of St George Illawarra.
Veteran winger Kyle Feldt, who broke Brisbane hearts when he scored in the final minute of the 2015 grand final, needs just one try to overtake Matt Bowen as North Queensland's greatest try scorer.
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