The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys host the Wests Tigers at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday evening.
1. RECORD AGAINST THE TIGERS
North Queensland have won three of the previous five matches against the Tigers, although lost the away fixture earlier this season. The Tigers hold a 24-19 lead in the all-time head-to-head match-up.
2. OLD BOYS
A huge crowd is expected at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday evening, which will include more than 50 Cowboys Old Boys. The group will include inaugural Cowboys skipper Laurie Spina, fellow foundation Cowboy John Buttigieg as well as premiership winners Matt Scott and Michael Morgan. The Old Boys will form a guard of honour to welcome the Cowboys players onto the field.
3. LAURIE SPINA SHIELD
Seventy-one under 11s teams will descend on Townsville this weekend for the annual Laurie Spina Shield. The carnival will run over two days, culminating in four teams playing on Queensland Country Bank Stadium prior to the Cowboys NRL match. Eight players from each team will also have the opportunity to run in the ‘Fastest Feet’ relay on the field at halftime of the NRL game.
4. BEANIES FOR BRAIN CANCER
Round 18 doubles as the NRL’s Beanie for Brain Cancer round, which invites the rugby league community to join the Mark Hughes Foundation on their quest to tackle brain cancer. Beanies will be available for purchase at both the northern and southern entrances to Queensland Country Bank Stadium as well as the corporate entrance at Gate G.
5. STATS UPDATE
Reigning NRL top point scorer Valentine Holmes has entered the NRL’s Top 5 for the first time this season. Holmes’ 18-point haul last weekend takes him to 122 for the season. Scott Drinkwater continues to rise up the try assists list, now sitting on 16, which ties him for second in the competition. He also sits third with 19 line-break assists. Chad Townsend ranks second for both kick metres (7,468) and total kicks (238). Reece Robson’s 653 tackles are the third most in the NRL.
