<p>With only the visitors set to qualify for the finals out of these two sides, this weekend’s clash between the North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos will be viewed as an opportunity for the hosts to end their season on a high.</p> <p>Perhaps disappointingly, the Cowboys are finishing the year displaying nearly their best form of 2025, with some sparkling attack on show in consecutive victories over the Knights and Tigers.</p> <p>The Broncos are also humming offensively, scoring 144 points across their last three wins as they remain in the hunt for a top four berth.</p> <p>Last week’s triumph over Newcastle saw them pile on 26 points in the space of 20 minutes, demonstrating their ability to blow sides away quickly despite missing first-choice halves duo, Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds.</p> <p>Todd Payten sticks with the same 17 for the Cowboys, while a returning Brendan Piakura is the only inclusion for the Broncos.</p> <p>Check out our North Queensland Cowboys vs Brisbane Broncos match preview for plenty of betting tips and predictions across a host of markets. From H2H to anytime try scorer and everything in between.&nbsp;</p> <p>Looking for all the latest news, analysis, odds, and betting tips ahead of this Queensland Derby? Check out our Cowboys vs Broncos prediction below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cowboys vs Broncos Prediction and Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Head-to-Head Prediction</h3> <p>NRL Round 26’s Saturday action comes to a close with a Queensland Derby up in Townsville as the Cowboys take on the Broncos at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.</p> <p>Despite losing both of their starting halves the Broncos have managed to stay in the top four race and will be hoping the Warriors lose to Parramatta so they can jump ahead of them with a win here.</p> <p>While it’s always handy to be able to sub in a veteran representative player like Ben Hunt into the halves, Billy Walters deserves his flowers for his recent performance at No.6.</p> <p>As does Reece Walsh who has finally hit top form at the back, really stepping up in the absence of both Reynolds and Mam to ensure the Broncos attack flair remains well and truly alive.</p> <p>With nothing left to play for, we don’t think the Cowboys will be able to upset the Broncs here, but don’t expect them to go quietly, these games always deliver drama of the highest order.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Brisbane Broncos.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Tryscorer Prediction</h3> <p>A bit of an outsider in terms of odds for this market, there is some method to our madness here.</p> <p>Zac Laybutt has been the first try-scorer in each of North Queensland's last two home matches against opponents that were ranked higher on the ladder.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Zac Laybutt.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Line Prediction</h3> <p>Brisbane has covered the line in seven of its last eight matches as a favourite.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Brisbane Broncos (-6.5).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cowboys vs Broncos Anytime Tryscorer Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Reece Walsh</h3> <p>Reece Walsh has scored at least one try in seven of his last eight appearances against opponents that were ranked lower on the ladder.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Braidon Burns&nbsp;</h3> <p>Braidon Burns has scored a try in each of North Queensland's last four matches.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Deine Mariner</h3> <p>Deine Mariner has scored at least one try in each of Brisbane's last three matches as a favourite.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Ben Talty</h3> <p>Ben Talty has scored a try in each of his three previous appearances in Queensland.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Kotoni Staggs</h3> <p>Kotoni Staggs has scored two tries in each of Brisbane's last two matches in Queensland.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cowboys vs Broncos Teams</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>North Queensland Cowboys Team List</h3> <p>1. Scott Drinkwater</p> <p>2. Semi Valemei</p> <p>3. Jaxon Purdue</p> <p>4. Viliami Vailea</p> <p>5. Braidon Burns&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>6. Jake Clifford&nbsp;</p> <p>7. Tom Dearden</p> <p>8. Jordan McLean</p> <p>9. Reece Robson</p> <p>10. Jason Taumalolo&nbsp;</p> <p>11. John Bateman</p> <p>12. Jeremiah Nanai</p> <p>13. Reuben Cotter</p> <p>14. Zac Laybutt&nbsp;</p> <p>15. Karl Lawton</p> <p>16. Harrison Edwards</p> <p>17. Thomas Mikaele</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Brisbane Broncos Team List</h3> <p>1. Reece Walsh</p> <p>2. Josiah Karapani</p> <p>3. Kotoni Staggs</p> <p>4. Gehamat Shibasaki</p> <p>5. Deine Mariner</p> <p>6. Billy Walters</p> <p>7. Ben Hunt</p> <p>8. Corey Jensen</p> <p>9. Cory Paix</p> <p>10. Payne Haas</p> <p>11. Jaiyden Hunt</p> <p>12. Jordan Riki</p> <p>13. Patrick Carrigan</p> <p>14. Tyson Smoothy</p> <p>15. Kobe Hetherington</p> <p>16. Ben Talty</p> <p>17. Brendan Piakura</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cowboys vs Broncos Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date: </strong>Saturday, August 30, 2025.</p> <p><strong>Kick-off:</strong> 7:35pm AEST.</p> <p><strong>Location:</strong> Queensland Country Bank Stadium.&nbsp;</p>