Match Centre

Round 12: North Queensland v Warriors preview

Top-eight berth beckons for the winner in the lands of the Wulgurukaba people.

In a season that continues to toss up surprises, the Cowboys and Warriors are set to face off for the second time this month.

Back in round 8 it was the Warriors who jumped 20 points clear before holding off a fast finishing North Queensland to win 24-20 in a Gosford heart stopper.

Speedy young gun Reece Walsh started in the halves that day, and alongside Kodi Nikorima the pair gave the Cowboys a first half lesson. Since then, the Warriors' attack has continued to prosper with Nathan Brown weaving Dally M Medal winner Roger Tuivasa-Sheck into the mix from the wing while starting Walsh at fullback.

In a blow for the Cowboys pack, prized lock Jason Taumalolo and forward Lachlan Burr have accepted one match suspensions, while Francis Molo has been ruled out. Coen Hess returns and with Jordan McLean and the improving Shane Wright and Tom Gilbert will be expected to do the bulk of the Cowboys' heavy lifting.

Upfront, the Warriors have no such problems where the only changes see Bunty Afoa and Ben Murdoch Massila drop back to the bench with Kane Evans and Jack Murchie named to start.

In what promises to be a high scoring Indigenous Round affair, if the Cowboys can land on the front foot, then the likes of the in-form Scott Drinkwater and the returning Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are every chance of matching the threat posed by their New Zealand counterparts.

As frustrating as it must be for both coaches, the propensity for both these sides to concede and accumulate points in large clumps makes this compulsive viewing.

Last week, Todd Payten's side effortlessly put 16 unanswered points on the Knights. They then found themselves trailing after the break, but a timely second coming eventually eased them home.

So too the Warriors, their victory over the Tigers broke a two game losing streak but in conceding 26 points it was anything but a cruisy evening for Brown in the Warriors coaching box.

Last meeting: Round 8 2021 - Warriors 24 Cowboys 20

Who to watch: Despite crossing for only three tries this year, with 95 in 143 appearances, Kyle Feldt has one of the best strike rates in the NRL. Still to earn a Maroons jumper, the classy winger put on a show against the Knights in smashing his way through 10 tackles to make four line breaks. A season best 236 metres was the result, and is sure to have Queensland coach Paul Green screaming for more.

Reece Walsh hasn't had any trouble attracting favourable press across his first five outings. Last week the Tigers were clueless to his sparkling feet and mesmerizing passes. Just as valuable as the three try assists and one try was his last ditch try saving tackle to ice the match. Whether he's down back or in the halves, the 18-year-old is sure to catch the eye.

The favourite: The Warriors have had the wood on the Cowboys winning four of the past five and enter this week's clash as the narrow favourite.

My tip: In a fast and furious contest, this one points to an absolute try-fest where sin bins could ultimately decide the result. North Queensland's record of three wins from the past five against the Warriors in Townsville gives them a slight edge, and they should have enough to make it five straight wins on home turf this season. North Queensland by 4.