North Queensland go in search of their fifth consecutive win in Sydney in the elimination final against Cronulla … and a simple thing such as all players going to bed early before a game has paid dividends.
The Cowboys have previously struggled when leaving Townsville but they’ve won their last six road trips, and, more crucially, their past four in the NSW capital.
To win the title, as they are situated on the Penrith side of the draw, they will need to win the next three finals in Sydney starting with Friday night’s showdown with the Sharks.
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“We spoke about our away record at the start of this season and everybody is getting their routine the same,” Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater told AAP after the 28-16 knockout finals win over Newcastle.
‘We are all going to bed at the same time as at home. When you are away in a team environment, it is easy to stay up a bit later.
“It is a personal obligation to the team to do what you would before home games where you are hanging out on your own or with the wife and where you go to bed normally a bit earlier. That is one reason why our away form has been better.”
Three of their four wins in Sydney came against top-eight sides.
The Cowboys beat Sydney Roosters 18-16, prevailed 16-6 over Penrith and walloped Canterbury 44-6 last week. The side’s defence was integral to all those wins after they were written off by critics.
“We can play a little bit more freely (in Sydney), just with the weight of expectation we have here at home,” Cowboys coach Todd Payten said after the win over the Knights in Townsville..
“We have put a lot of effort and work into our routines in what we are doing at our hotels the night before, and what we do on the day of the game, and that has had an impact.
“Our confidence has grown from win to win down in Sydney and we know we are very capable.”
The Sharks and Cowboys have played each other five times in finals since 2013, with North Queensland ahead 3-2.
Their last clash in the semis was a 32-30 win to the Cowboys in a 2022 qualifying final when Valentine Holmes landed a two-point field goal in extra time.
Payten said the Cowboys would do “what we are paid to do” against the Sharks.
“They are a good defensive team and quick and athletic across the park. They have got some big bodies and they are skilful. She is going to be a cracking game,” he said.
