Cowboys v Titans preview

North Queensland Cowboys v Gold Coast Titans
1300SMILES Stadium - Saturday 7:30pm

Meaningless fixture turned finals warm-up.

Just seven days ago this fixture looked like a significant one in the make-up of the final ladder coming into the last round of the regular season - now it bears almost no meaning. The Cowboys are locked in to 3rd spot after losing to Melbourne (unless they can muster up a 100+ point win...), while the Titans put any murmurs of a wooden spoon finish on Sunday when they downed the Dragons in their final home game at Cbus Super Stadium.

Now? The Cowboys get what can effectively be called an opposed training session ahead of their first finals game - most likely to be held at Suncorp Stadium against their other state rivals in the Broncos, while the Titans get one more game to spoil the show for a finals side. Don't be surprised if the home side decides to rest a few players ahead of their Townsville swansong this season - and let's face it, with a top four finish, they'll be back here in a fortnight to host a home final anyway.

Last meeting: Round 21 2014 - North Queensland Cowboys 28 Gold Coast Titans 8

Who to watch: Ray Thompson has deputised for the Cowboys' representative halves over a significant period now - but he's no Michael Morgan. JT's halves partner this weekend is capable of plenty and it will be interesting to see if he can shine in a match where there's little motivation to push hard. Morgan's injury provides Thompson an opportunity to stamp his claim on the five-eighth spot - or at the very least tell coach Paul Green that he's worthy of a spot in the bench rotation.

Dave Taylor's late season form has been incredible - but again it's come at the wrong time. The Titans could've used his barnstorming best earlier in the season when finals were a real possibility - instead he's fit and firing at his best with September footy a distant afterthought. Big DT is off to Catalans next season, so we'll see if he can achieve consistency from across the globe.

The favourite: It goes without saying here I think. Cowboys are well-backed here.

My tip: Despite the overwhelming odds I can't see the Titans letting this get too far away from them. The Cowboys will run out winners here but not by a ridiculous margin. Cowboys by 12.

1. Lachlan Coote 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O'Neill 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Ray Thompson 7. Johnathan Thurston 8. Matthew Scott 9. Jake Granville 10. James Tamou 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Ethan Lowe 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Rory Kostjasyn 15. John Asiata 16. Scott Bolton 17. Ben Hannant 18. Ben Spina

1. Josh Hoffman 2. David Mead 3. James Roberts 4. Brad Tighe 5. Nene Macdonald 6. Daniel Mortimer 7. Kane Elgey 8. Luke Douglas 9. Beau Falloon 10. Ryan James 11. Agnatius Paasi 12. Dave Taylor 13. Lachlan Burr
Interchange: 14. Matt White 15. Eddy Pettybourne 16. Nathaniel Peteru 17. Kierran Moseley 18. Kalifa Faifai Loa 19. Matt Robinson 20. Leva Li

Referees: Henry Perenara, Chris Sutton; Sideline Officials: Jason Walsh, Belinda Sleeman; Video Referees: Jared Maxwell, Luke Phillips;

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