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Brisbane Broncos vs North Queensland Cowboys NRL Betting Tips - Injured Broncos to lose QLD derby

jeremy-darke
Jeremy Darke
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Last updated: Wed 08 Apr 2026 16:46
The Brisbane Broncos are set to face the North Queensland Cowboys in a thrilling QLD derby. Despite Brisbane's recent three-game winning streak, the team is plagued by injuries and absentees, notably losing Reece Walsh and Ben Hunt. Meanwhile, North Queensland is on a victorious run, largely due to the dynamic playmaking duo Tom Dearden and Jake Clifford. With Brisbane's weakened defense, the Cowboys have a strong chance of surpassing 22.5 points, making them the favorites to win. Scott Drinkwater is projected to continue his impressive streak with more tries.
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Jeremy Darke 08 Apr 2026
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  • Broncos face key injuries; Walsh and Hunt out.
  • Cowboys on a three-game winning streak.
  • Prediction: Cowboys surpass 22.5 points and win.
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north queensland cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys to cause an upset (Getty Images)

Brisbane Broncos vs North Queensland Cowboys Preview


Brisbane are hit by injuries and absentees and the Cowboys can stun the Broncos in this QLD derby. North Queensland don't have the best recent record in the fixture, but can break the losing streak. 

  • Brisbane have won 1 of 3 games at Suncorp this season. 
  • North Queensland have scored an average of 30 points in their last 3 matches.
  • Brisbane have allowed over 22.5 points in 2 of their 3 matches at Suncorp this season. 
  • Scott Drinkwater has 2 tries in his last 3 games.

Head to Head 


Brisbane have won the last six matches against the Cowboys including an eight and 10 point victory last season.

Eight of the last nine matches have gone over the game total. 

Brisbane Broncos Win Three Straight


Brisbane have clearly steadied after their 0-2 start to win their last matches and bring their record back to a respectable 3-2 and in eighth on the ladder. 

Last weekend’s victory over their little brother Titans came at a heavy cost though losing Reece Walsh and Ben Hunt for likely over a month. Losing that experience and class is going to hurt the Broncos heading into a tough Origin period after their return. 

Despite getting three consecutive victories, Brisbane are still not the team that took out the Grand Final last season. They are lacking some strike in attack which will be affected even more by the absence of Walsh. 

The positive is that after allowing 66 points in the first two matches of the season they have averaged just 12.66 points against per game in their last three. 

North Queensland Cowboys On Winning Run


Similar to the Broncos, the Cowboys have also won three games on the trot doing enough in defence to give their attack good field position and an opportunity to put up points. 

Last week’s 32-0 drubbing of the Saints was the pinnacle of their reform, however, it had a lot to do with the staleness of the Dragons more than anything. Their strong victory against the Storm 28-24 is a good gauge of where they are at right now. 

The halves combination between Tom Dearden and Jake Clifford is finally gelling, giving Todd Payton an  easy selection each week which he hasn’t had over the last couple of seasons. 

Dearden is steering the ship while Clifford is having a career-best year with 3 tries, 5 try assists, 3 line break assists along with 100 run metres per game.

Verdict

North Queensland to score more than 22.5 points and beat the Broncos on their home field. Scott Drinkwater will score his fifth try in five games.
Best Bet1: North Queensland Money Line @23/17 at Hollywood bets - 2 Units
Best Bet2: North QLD Over 22.5 Team Total @10/11 at bet365 - 2 Units
Best Bet3: Scott Drinkwater Anytime Tryscorer @37/20 at Star Sports - 1 Unit
Best Bet4: Scott Drinkwater First Tryscorer @14/1 at Hollywood bets - 1 Unit
North Queensland
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