XXXX things you need to know: Elimination Final v Knights

The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys host the Knights in an Elimination Final at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night.

1. ON THE BIG STAGE

The Cowboys will host their second home final in three seasons, following on from the 2022 prelim against the Eels. The Cowboys have won seven of the eight finals played in North Queensland in the club’s history. North Queensland’s overall finals record sits at 16 wins and 13 losses.

2. FIERCE OPPONENT

The Cowboys and Knights have been rare adversaries in recent times, meetings just once a year in the last three seasons. The home team has won the last 11 fixtures between the two teams stretching back to 2016, including North Queensland’s 21-20 Golden Point victory earlier this season. The Cowboys hold a 23-22 lead in the overall match-up.

3. READY TO GO

Aside from long-term injuries to Coen Hess and Zac Laybutt, Todd Payten has all hands on deck for the first week of the finals. Jordan McLean has been named to return from a hamstring injury at prop, seeing Sam McIntyre back to the interchange and Tom Mikaele to the reserves. Kulikefu is set to make his finals debut after making a successful return from a thumb injury last weekend.

4. STATS UPDATE

A late-season blitz saw Valentine Holmes streak away with his second NRL-point scoring title, with his 246 for the season 23 clear of second-placed Jamayne Isaako. Scott Drinkwater also led the NRL with 29 linebreak assists, while ranking second with 25 try assists and fourth with 441 runs. Kyle Feldt finished the season second with 22 tries, a career-high for the Cowboys Life Member. Feldt was also fourth with 24 line-break assists.