While they both came out on the wrong end of the scoreboard in Queensland derbies last week, the Cowboys and Titans head into Round 5 in vastly different shape.
After an undefeated opening three weeks, North Queensland barely fired a shot against Brisbane, with a 61 percent completion rate and some poor defensive lapses costing them dearly at Suncorp Stadium.
Despite that Todd Payten’s charges remain inside the top four on the Telstra Premiership ladder and are tracking well after missing the finals in 2023.
The Titans however are up struggle street, having scored just 18 points through their first three games, with a fast start last week not enough to avoid a 16-point loss to the Dolphins in which they missed 39 tackles and gave up seven line breaks.
After losing their final two games of last season at Queensland Country Bank Stadium the Cowboys won their only game their so far this year, while the Titans have won just once in five visits to the venue.
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Team news
Cowboys: The Cowboys are 1-17 with no late changes as Todd Payten sticks with the same squad that went down to the Broncos. Utility Jake Granville will play his 200th game for the club off the bench, while on the wing Kyle Feldt is closing in on becoming North Queensland’s all-time top try-scorer. Thomas Mikaele is 18th man.
Titans: David Fifita has been promoted to the starting side an hour before kick-off on the back of a successful return from injury last week. Klese Haas moves to lock and Erin Clark goes to the bench. New faces on both wings with Jojo Fifita and off-season recruit Harley Smith-Shields coming in to replace Phillip Sami, who is out with an ankle injury. With Isaac Liu out under the concussion protocol, Jaimin Jolliffe moves to prop with Josiah Pahulu called in to debut from the interchange in the absence of Keenan Palasia (quad).
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Stat attack
- The Cowboys have won three of their past four games against the Titans.
- The Titans have won only one of their past 12 games in Townsville.
- The Cowboys have won seven of their past nine games at QCB Stadium.
- Titans centre Brian Kelly will play his 150th NRL game.
- Cowboys utility Jake Granville will play his 200th game for the club.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.