Round 8, Cowboys (Team List Here) versus Knights (Team List Here) Match Preview Saturday 22nd of Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville, 7: 35 pm kick-off.

THE GIST

The North Queensland Cowboys will host the Cronulla Sharks in game four, Round 8 National Rugby League Telstra Premiership in 2023; It doesn’t get more competitive in round eight as these two fight it out for another two points; The North Queensland Cowboys are falling down the ladder, sitting sixteenth which pretty much labels the current dilemma at the Cowboys, this is a crucial two points for the Cowboys so if we were ever to see something from them this season it would have to be this game to kick start their run, on the flip the Knights, the underrated contenders or are they just pretenders? the Knights have been exceeding everyone’s expectations this year!

The North Queensland Cowboys have a strong home win record against the Newcastle Knights at home, in fact, they have won the last five head-to-head clashes against the Knights at home, unfortunately for the Cowboys, the Knights will see the return of Ponga which will add a new dynamic to the Knights completely, it’s a dangerous game for the Cowboys who are desperate.

The North Queensland Cowboys are going up against a confident Knights team who has been better offensively, the only common ground is defence, with both teams conceding about the same, this could get ugly for the Cowboys if they don’t turn up.

Ben Hampton and Jordan McLean are in for the Cowboys, and Hymel Hunt, Jacob Saifiti, Kalyn Ponga and Simi Sasagi slot in for the Newcastle Knights.

THE HISTORY

Since 1998, Newcastle Knights have been winning fifty-one per cent of the head-to-head clashes; Cowboys at home have won five from the last five against the Knights; the last time these two met? the Cowboys were victorious winning 36-16.

CURRENT FORM

In Round Seven, the North Queensland Cowboys lost to the Warriors 22-14, and the Knights lost to the Panthers 16-15.

POINT SCORING

The North Queensland Cowboys have averaged seventeen points a match, and the Newcastle Knights have averaged twenty-one.

DEFENSE

Since Round One, the North Queensland Cowboys are currently leaking twenty-two points a match in 2023, while the Newcastle Knights have been leaking twenty-two points a match.

PREDICTION

Knights