Sunday, 23rd of August, 4:05 PM, NRL Round 15, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Newcastle Knights versus North Queensland Cowboys Match Preview

The fortunes of these two sides could not be greater going into this fixture. With Newcastle sitting pretty in sixth, working their way to a finals spot, North Queensland sit in 14th, with just three wins from 14 games. The Cowboys have lost their last seven games whilst the Knights are on a two-game winning streak following victories over Manly and Wests.

The Newcastle Knights

Newcastle Knights 2020 squad list excluding above changes below;

 
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Starford To’a 3. Enari Tuala 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Hymel Hunt 6. Blake Green 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. David Klemmer 9. Kurt Mann 10. Jacob Saifiti 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Aidan Guerra 13. Mitchell Barnett

Reserves: 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Herman Ese’ese 16. Josh King 17. Pasami Saulo 18. Brodie Jones 19. Tex Hoy 20. Chris Randall 21. Jirah Momoisea

Coach: Adam O’Brien

The North Queensland Cowboys

North Queensland Cowboys 2020 squad list excluding above changes below;

 
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Tom Opacic 4. Connelly Lemuelu 5. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 6. Ben Hampton 7. Michael Morgan 8. Josh Mcguire 9. Reece Robson 10. Jordan McLean 11. Mitchell Dunn 12. Coen Hess 13. Jason Taumalolo

Reserves: 14. Reuben Cotter 15. John Asiata 16. Emry Pere 17. Francis Molo 18. Shane Wright 19. Jake Clifford 20. Corey Jensen 22. Justin O’Neill

Coach: Josh Hannay

LAST TIME THEY MET

Ironically, the last time North Queensland registered two points on the ladder was against Newcastle back in June in a 32-20 success. In fact, the Cowboys have beaten the Knights in six out of their last seven head-to-heads.

WHO WINS THIS ONE

THE ERL PREDICTION

Newcastle is a team in form, the Cowboys simply are not. It could get ugly for North Queensland in this one.

Newcastle Knights for the win.

If we had to pick a line?

Cowboys +8.5