The Broncos are almost unrecognisable from the team which won just 10 games across the past two seasons, kicking off 2022 with tight and tough victories over the Rabbitohs and Bulldogs.
The arrival of Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell has the Broncos buzzing and their influence has been clear for all to see in the first two games.
Further north and the Cowboys have their own star recruits in Chad Townsend and Peta Hiku, two experienced campaigners who bring composure and class to a proud club crying out for a return to the glory days of 2015 and the gutsy days of 2017.
There is no better setting than Suncorp Stadium on a Sunday afternoon for the latest instalment in a rivalry which has been going strong since 1995 and rarely fails to deliver.
Sportsbet Betting preview: Broncos v Cowboys
The Rundown
Team news
Broncos: Corey Jensen has been promoted from the reserves list to the interchange bench in a swap with TC Robati in the only change to the side originally named during the week.
Cowboys: Will line up as per program. Reuben Cotter joins the bench in place of Mitchell Dunn, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Raiders.
Match: Broncos v Cowboys
Round 3 -
home Team
Broncos
away Team
Cowboys
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Tesi NiuFullback for Cowboys is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
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Winger for Broncos is number 2 Corey OatesWinger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt
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Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni StaggsCentre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine Holmes
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Centre for Broncos is number 4 Herbie FarnworthCentre for Cowboys is number 4 Peta Hiku
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Winger for Broncos is number 5 Selwyn CobboWinger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
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Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Albert KellyFive-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom Dearden
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Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Adam ReynoldsHalfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend
Forwards
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Prop for Broncos is number 8 Keenan PalasiaProp for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean
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Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Jake TurpinHooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
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Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne HaasProp for Cowboys is number 10 Coen Hess
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2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Tom Gilbert
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2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
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Lock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick CarriganLock for Cowboys is number 13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange
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Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Ryan JamesInterchange for Cowboys is number 14 Jake Granville
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Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Kobe HetheringtonInterchange for Cowboys is number 15 Heilum Luki
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Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Billy WaltersInterchange for Cowboys is number 16 Reuben Cotter
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Interchange for Broncos is number 24 Corey JensenInterchange for Cowboys is number 17 Griffin Neame
Reserves
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Replacement for Broncos is number 18 David MeadReplacement for Cowboys is number 21 Brendan Elliot
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Key match-up
Adam Reynolds v Chad Townsend: Hard to go past the battle of the two wily playmakers as the most pivotal contest in this one. Reynolds needed just 80 minutes in Broncos colours to prove that he is worth every cent they are paying him and then some, while Townsend found his groove in his second game as a Cowboy with a line break, a try assist and 269 kicking metres in the win over Canberra. The 2014 premiership-winning No.7 matching wits with the 2016 premiership-winning No.7 should be worth the price of admission alone as these two great Queensland rivals go in search of early-season braging rights.
Stat attack
Since their epic showdown in the 2015 grand final, the Broncos and Cowboys have met on 13 occasions with Brisbane holding a slender 7-6 advantage. Four of those games were decided by a single point and the average winning margin across the 13 clashes is just seven points.
