North Queensland Cowboys have talent to take title, says Brisbane Broncos captain Corey Parker

PREMIERSHIP winning Bronco Corey Parker says North Queensland are the first NRL team outside the top four with the talent to win the title.

TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Glenn Hall of the Cowboys gets into a fight with Andrew McCullough of the Bronocs during the NRL 1st Elimination Final match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Brisbane Broncos at 1300SMILES Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

PREMIERSHIP winning Bronco Corey Parker says North Queensland are the first NRL team outside the top four with the talent to win the title.

Brisbane’s co-captain witnessed how brilliant the Cowboys can be when they rocketed to a 24-0 lead against the Broncos in their elimination final on Saturday.

The Broncos clawed their way back into the contest in the second half but North Queensland’s furious opening was ultimately the difference.

The only trophy in the Cowboys’ cabinet is the NRL Nines title they won in February.

Glenn Hall says the Cowboys have a title culture. Picture: Wesley Monts

They finished fifth this season. A team from outside the top four is yet to win the title but the Cowboys came from fifth in 2005 to make the grand final.

The New Zealand Warriors and Parramatta have also made grand finals from outside the four.

“Anyone in the eight showed they can win the comp, the statistic about not being able to win the comp from the bottom four, that’s out the window,” Parker said.

“The Cowboys showed tonight they have the class to go all the way.

“They have the ingredients certainly.”

The Cowboys are now on the tougher side of the NRL draw.

If they beat the Roosters they face South Sydney to make the grand final.

That is three Sydney games in three weeks to win the premiership.

Off-contract Cowboys backrower Glenn Hall already has a premiership ring from his 2008 year with the Manly Sea Eagles.

He said this North Queensland side had the talent to win the title and their internal culture reminded him of Manly.

“I definitely think we have the team to go all the way and I see the same desire we had at Manly,” he said.

“Our next step is the Roosters, it’s do or die, we can’t afford to look at the big picture but we definitely have the talent in this group to win the competition.

“It was clinical in the first half but the second half we need to fix.

“If we turn up against the Roosters like that, we will be in trouble.

“To go on in this competition, that dropping off can’t be done.

“The premiers will make us pay if we drop our intensity like that.”

Originally published as North Queensland Cowboys have talent to take title, says Brisbane Broncos captain Corey Parker