The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys travel to Perth to face the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday afternoon.
1. WILD WEST
A number of the Cowboys’ squad will have fond memories of their most recent trip to Perth with North Queensland winning the NRL Nines in 2020. Scott Drinkwater, Murray Taulagi, Jake Clifford, Reece Robson, Jason Taumalolo and Coen Hess were members of the victorious Nines squad, which saw the Cowboys become the only two-time winners of the competition.
2. LIMITED HISTORY
Nines aside, Saturday afternoon marks the premiership appearance for the Cowboys in Perth since Round 7 of the 1997 Super League season. The Cowboys lost a low-scoring encounter 6-4 to the Western Reds, with the Cowboys only points coming courtesy of two John Doyle penalties.
3. ON A ROLL
The Cowboys have won their previous two meetings against the Rabbitohs, including a tight 28-22 triumph in Magic Round last season behind doubles to Braidon Burns and Tom Dearden. South Sydney hold a slender 21-19 head to head lead in 40 overall meetings.
4. COTTER TO RETURN
After illness forced him to be a late withdrawal for the victory over Penrith last weekend, Reuben Cotter is on track to return against Souths. Todd Payten has named the same 22-man squad for the third week in a row.
