<p>Two sides seeing out the end of forgettable seasons will meet when the North Queensland Cowboys and Newcastle Knights face off at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Sunday.</p> <p>Both are set to miss the eight just 12 months after battling it out in an elimination final against one another, with the Cowboys holding the league’s worst defence and the Knights holding the worst offence. Welcome to what happens when a stoppable force meets a moveable object.</p> <p>The Knights are on a league-worst five-match losing streak and travel to Townsville – where they have lost nine straight – desperate to avoid their first wooden spoon since 2017.</p> <p>Jordan McLean, Karl Lawton, Thomas Mikaele and Harrison Edwards all return for the Cowboys. Coen Hess (suspension), Marly Bitungane, Nicholas Lenaz and Kaiden Lahrs are out of the side.</p> <p>Teenage fullback Connor Votano debuts for the Knights with Dane Gagai returning to the centres and Fletcher Hunt dropped. Phoenix Crossland (head knock) is also out while Brodie Jones and Matt Arthur join the bench.</p> <p>Check out our North Queensland Cowboys vs Newcastle Knights 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 dead rubber? Check out our Cowboys vs Knights prediction below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cowboys vs Knights Prediction and Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Head-to-Head Prediction</h3> <p>In direct opposition to Thursday night’s opener, the final game of NRL round 24 looks like a bit of fizzer with pride the only thing on the line.</p> <p>The North Queensland Cowboys will look to bounce back from their single-point loss to the Eels when they welcome the Newcastle Knights to the tropics, in a game they will fancy their chances in.</p> <p>The Knights are winless in their last five and are still in very real danger of collecting the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nrl/news/most-wooden-spoons-of-all-time">wooden spoon</a> if they aren’t careful.</p> <p>If this isn’t the ultimate bounce-back game, we don’t know what is. North Queensland by plenty.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>North Queensland Cowboys.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Tryscorer Prediction</h3> <p>In a game that is going to be rather unpredictable, we’re missing it up a bit and taking a forward in the first try scorer market.</p> <p>Jeremiah Nanai has scored at least one try in five of North Queensland's last six matches as a favourite and we’re backing him to be the first one over the line in this dead rubber.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Jeremiah Nanai.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Over/Under Prediction</h3> <p>Five of North Queensland's last six matches as a favourite have gone over the total match points line.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Over total match points (46.5)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Line Prediction</h3> <p>The home team has covered the line in five of North Queensland's last six matches.</p> <p>Betting tip: Cowboys (-6.5).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cowboys vs Knights Anytime Tryscorer Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Dominic Young</h3> <p>Dominic Young has scored at least one try in each of his four previous appearances against North Queensland.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Tom Dearden</h3> <p>Tom Dearden has scored a try in each of North Queensland's last four matches against Newcastle.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Greg Marzhew</h3> <p>In five of North Queensland's last six home matches, the opposition's starting left wing has scored at least one try.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Jaxon Purdue</h3> <p>Jaxon Purdue has scored a try in five of North Queensland's last six matches against teams on a losing streak.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Scott Drinkwater</h3> <p>In each of Newcastle's last three away matches, the opposition's starting fullback has scored a try.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cowboys vs Knights 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. Zac Laybutt&nbsp;</p> <p>5. Braidon Burns</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. Karl Lawton</p> <p>15. Harrison Edwards</p> <p>16. Kai O'Donnell</p> <p>17. Thomas Mikaele</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Newcastle Knights Team List</h3> <p>1. Connor Votano</p> <p>2. Dom Young</p> <p>3. Dane Gagai</p> <p>4. Bradman Best</p> <p>5. Greg Marzhew</p> <p>6. Jake Arthur</p> <p>7. Jack Cogger</p> <p>8. Jacob Saifiti</p> <p>9. Jayden Brailey</p> <p>10. Leo Thompson</p> <p>11. Jermaine McEwen</p> <p>12. Kai Pearce-Paul</p> <p>13. Tyson Frizell</p> <p>14. Matthew Arthur&nbsp;</p> <p>15. Mat Croker</p> <p>16. Thomas Cant</p> <p>17. Brodie Jones</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cowboys vs Knights Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date: </strong>Sunday, August 17, 2025.</p> <p><strong>Kick-off: </strong>4:05pm AEST.</p> <p><strong>Location: </strong>Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville.&nbsp;</p>