In 2004 the Cowboys announced their arrival as a legitimate player in the NRL’s greatest derby

THE Broncos-Cowboys showdown is the undisputed heavyweight champion of NRL derbies. But it wasn’t always like that.

Bronco Dane Carlaw tackles Cowboy Luke O'Donnell in 2004.

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THE Broncos-Cowboys showdown is the undisputed heavyweight champion of NRL derbies and the next chapter of this thrilling and pulsating rivalry will play out at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

The 2015 grand final was the ultimate high in the battle for Queensland bragging rights amid a host of recent edge-of-the-seat classics that have made the clash compulsive viewing.

Whenever these two proud clubs play, it is quite simply rugby league at its finest.

But it wasn’t always like that.

The first 16 times these clubs played after the Cowboys were born in 1995, North Queensland failed to register one victory.

Not one.

The NRL Queensland derby was more like a Broncos stampede more often than not. There was always a very noticeable smattering of maroon and gold jumpers in the crowd at Townsville.

The north was not yet won by the home side.

But it all changed in 2004 when the two Queensland clubs were set to meet in the finals.

Ty Williams attempts to get past Shane Webcke in the 2004 clash.

Brisbane had lost to Melbourne in the first week of the finals while the Cowboys scored a stunning upset victory over the Bulldogs to set-up the all-Queensland affair prompting “Cowabunga’’ headlines.

They were set to play at the Sydney Football Stadium but the Broncos pushed to have the game in Townsville with Wayne Bennett declaring Brisbane did not deserve to have the home ground advantage after falling to the Storm despite finishing higher than the Cowboys after the home-and-away rounds.

The NRL came to the party. Instead of a man and his dog watching at the SFS, a capacity crowd awaited in Townsville.

Broncos captain — and Townsville junior — Gorden Tallis was relegated to the Brisbane bench despite leading the team onto Dairy Farmers Stadium in front of 24,989 spectators with Bennett later claiming it was because the raging backrower was ill.

It would prove to be Tallis’ final-ever game.

Bronco Dane Carlaw tackles Cowboy Luke O'Donnell in the 2004 NRL finals clash.

The gritty Cowboys ground out a 10-0 win over big brother with five-eighth David Myles scoring the sole try of the match and North Queensland radar boot Josh Hannay slotting three goals to send the Townsville faithful into raptures.

Flinders Street in Townsville is the traditional post-match haunt for players and fans alike.

After the historic 10-0 victory, the bars, clubs and pubs were packed to capacity with crowds spilling onto the street

Graham Murray’s men tackled like their lives depended on it to set-up a showdown with the Sydney Roosters in a grand final qualifier the following Sunday.

The brave Cowboys lost a hard-fought affair to the Roosters with a number of refereeing decisions going against North Queensland.

The Bulldogs — including Cowboys-bound Johnathan Thurston — would beat the Roosters in the 2004 grand final but the god new story of the year was the Cowboys and their first-ever finals appearance.

Regardless of the bitter exit, the Cowboys had chosen the biggest ever stage for a Queensland derby to announce their arrival as a legitimate player in the rivalry.

It was game-on.