Cowboys vs Knights Predictions: 11/2 for a perfect Feldt finale
The eight potential NRL champions for 2024 will be whittled down to seven on Saturday when the North Queensland Cowboys host the Newcastle Knights in this year’s first elimination final at Queensland Country Bank Stadium (kick-off 10:50 BST, 19:50 local, live on Sky Sports Mix).
Both sides come into this off the back of victories, with the Knights’ 14-6 success against the Dolphins booking them the last place in the play-offs. My Cowboys vs Knights predictions foresee another absorbing encounter.
The hometown Cowboys are 4/11 to win in 80 minutes and march on to the next round, with the Knights 12/5 to cause an upset.
There was, of course, the Round 2 meeting between these two at the same venue which went to golden-point extra-time, and Betfred are offering 20/1 on this one going beyond the regulation period too.
Team News
Jordan McLean is back for the Cowboys, with coach Todd Payten naming him in the starting number-eight jersey. McLean missed the huge victory over the Bulldogs in Round 27 with a hamstring injury, but returns for this one so Sam McIntyre drops to the interchange bench.
Former Warrington Wolves forward Thomas Mikaele makes way for McIntyre among the substitutes.
The visitors are set to roll out the same 17 which got the job done in the winner-takes-all Round 27 clash with the Dolphins. That means no space for Kai Pearce-Paul, who has yet to see any gametime since a laceration to his leg three weeks ago.
Kyle Feldt first tryscorer @ 11/2
St Helens fans will be keeping a close eye on this one. Kyle Feldt is due to arrive on Merseyside this winter, ending his 12-year NRL career with the Cowboys best remembered for his on-the-buzzer equalising try in the 2015 Grand Final.
The ace winger is now 32 but is arguably better than ever, having crossed for a career-high 22 tries in his 24 appearances this year. And on Saturday he will be playing in Townsville for the last time as a Cowboy.
The fairy-tale ending would be for him to score the last try, maybe even in a similar scenario to that spellbinding showpiece in 2015. But I make it that the Cowboys will get on top early, and I’m backing Feldt to cross first at a tempting 11/2 and an implied probability of 15.4%.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Handicap 3-way: Cowboys -10 @ 11/10
Payten and the Cowboys may not be of the calibre of that champion 2015 side, but they’ve got really quality in their ranks all the same.
They have gradually corrected a worrying trot at home which saw them lose four of five in Townsville, winning 80 per cent of the last five since getting over the top of the Bulldogs on home soil in mid-July.
With a full stadium and a partisan atmosphere, I think that continues on Saturday. And with 10 of their 15 wins in the NRL in 2024 having come by 10 points or more, I reckon 11/10 is a good price for them to have two scores on a Knights side who had to leave everything out on the field just six days prior simply to reach this stage.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
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