NRL 2024: North Queensland Cowboys clinch finals spot as Brisbane Broncos and Dolphins eye blockbuster match
Mark August 31st on your calendars – it’s shaping up to be an epic battle for a possible finals spot for the Broncos and Dolphins, who are chasing the new kings of Queensland.
The Broncos and Dolphins could be a fortnight from duking it out for the final available position within the top eight.
North Queensland’s return to form on Saturday in a 42-4 demolition of the Raiders should be enough to secure Queensland’s first NRL finals place, leaving five teams battling to finish eighth.
Meanwhile, the Gold Coast consigned itself to another season watching from the sidelines after being comfortably handled by the Dragons on Sunday afternoon.
The Red V has found form at the right time of the year, winning two of their last three to put themselves in position to make a finals appearance for the first time since 2018.
The next three rounds will separate the wheat from the chaff.
With Brisbane hosting the ailing Eels and the Dolphins travelling to Melbourne to face the Storm in round 25, there’s every chance the two teams will be locked on level pegging when they run out for the blockbuster at Suncorp on Saturday, August 31.
There’s more to the finals equation than just one game, but that match is already shaping as a season-defining 80 minutes for Queensland’s oldest and youngest NRL teams.
Both clubs’ fate is ultimately out of their control with St George two points ahead, while Knights fans insist their team is still a red-hot chance with Kalyn Ponga back in the line-up.
And there’s still the battle for Queensland’s wooden spoon, which the Titans are desperate to offload after claiming for the past two seasons.
No club wants to finish below its rivals and they will all fight tooth and nail to beat their fellow Queenslanders.
The Broncos announced that Reece Walsh would undergo surgery on his broken hand last week and head of performance David Ballard confirmed the superstar fullback, as well as engine room enforcer Payne Haas, were both targeting a return to play this season.
But to give the dynamic duo a fighting chance of timely recoveries, Brisbane must extend its season.
Next week’s bye round will elevate the Cowboys to the 32 points which should be enough to play finals, but the equation for Queensland’s other three teams is still incomplete.
The Broncos play the Eels (H), Dolphins (A) and Storm (H) and they will likely need to win all three games to progress.
The Dolphins are a win ahead of their southern neighbours and they face the Storm (A), Broncos (H) and Knights (A).
The Titans have the toughest draw of the trio with games against the Roosters (H), Knights (A) and Panthers (A).
If the Dolphins finish their season the way they played in Bundaberg, they can kiss a finals berth goodbye.
The Dolphins couldn’t penetrate a brick wall Bulldogs defence and it’s obvious that the game lacked fireworks when the best highlight was a tackle – though admittedly Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s incredible sprint to chase down Josh Addo-Carr in full flight is worth going back to see if you missed it.
Brisbane secured the two points this week in the easiest way possible with the bye, while North Queensland was simply brilliant against the Raiders in a dominant 42-4 demolition.
It was probably the most complete Cowboys performance of the season and a warning shot to the rest of the competition of what they can serve up on their day.
The wheels fell off the Titans’ wagon on Sunday afternoon after a rapid start to the match with a full-field try ignited by Keano Kini, likely ending their slim hopes of a post-season.
The next three weeks of footy will be unmissable.
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