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Brisbane Broncos vs North QLD Cowboys NRL Tips - Broncos pack to dominate Cows

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Last updated: 19 Mar 2025
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Ryan Tucker 19 Mar 2025
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  • Brisbane Broncos vs North QLD Cowboys expert predictions for Friday’s Round 3 NRL game
  • Kick off is at 8:05 PM (AEDT) at Suncorp Stadium
  • Broncos predicted to win against Cowboys in NRL Round 3, 2025.
  • Strong Broncos forward pack expected to exploit Cowboys' defensive weaknesses.
  • Jesse Arthars or Selwyn Cobbo backed in for a meat pie.
Ryan gives his top picks for Friday night footy!

Brisbane Broncos vs North QLD Cowboys, Round 3 2025 - Expert Prediction


The Brisbane Broncos will secure a 5th straight win against the North Queensland Cowboys with their defensive structures not able to hold up to the onslaught from the mobile Broncos forward pack.
  • Brisbane Broncos vs North QLD Cowboys, Round 3 2025 - Expert Prediction
  • Head to Head 
  • Brisbane Broncos Form Analysis & Betting Trends
  • Recent Form
  • 2025 Betting Trends
  • Brisbane Broncos Team News
  • Brisbane Broncos Team List
  • North QLD Cowboys Form Analysis & Betting Trends
  • Recent Form
  • 2025 Betting Trends
  • North QLD Cowboys Team News
  • North QLD Cowboys Team List
  • Brisbane Broncos vs North QLD Cowboys NRL 2025 Round 3 FAQ’s

The Cowboys have been dominated in the middle over the past two weekends of footy with a total of 6 opposition forwards all amassing 100+ run metres against them. Looking deeper into the mess that is the Cowboys defence we can see that their opposition has one of the highest possession rates of any team in the league as well as the highest number of Run Metres.

Brisbane were shocked by how Canberra came at them last weekend and will be ready for another forwards battle this weekend. Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan have 615 run metres between them over the first two games while other mobile forwards like Riki, Hetherington and Willison have contributed in similar fashion.

My expectation here is that Brisbane will try to roll through the middle and edges allowing Reynolds and Hunt the opportunity to control the tempo of the game to their favour.  

Take the Broncos to win 1-12, the game total to go Under with both teams likely being drilled on defence following their lapses last weekend. Both Cobbo and Arthars have scored 4 tries in 2 games. 3 tries were allowed down the Cowboys right side last weekend.

  • Brisbane are 2-2 straight up and 1-3 ATS as 16.5 point (or more) favourites since 2019.  
  • 2 of the last 3 games with Brisbane as this heavy favourite have gone Under the Game Total.
  • Jesse Arthars had 3 tries last weekend and matches up against one of the worst defensive edges in the NRL.
  • 8 of the 13 tries scored by Brisbane this season have been by Wingers.

Head to Head 


The Broncos have won 4 straight against the Cowboys as well as 8 of the last 12 dating back to the start of the 2019 season. 

The last 7 games and 9 of 12 during the same period have all gone Over the Game total while the winning margin has more often than not been 13+, only 4 of the last 12 have finished between 1-12.

North Queensland’s last win against the Broncos at Suncorp was in March 2022.

Brisbane Broncos Form Analysis & Betting Trends


Recent Form


Last 5 W/LLast 5 ATSLast 5 O/U
1-11-12-0

After putting 50 past the Roosters in round 1, Brisbane failed to get past the Raiders last weekend going down 32-22 in Canberra.

4 of the back 5 from the Raiders were able to run for 120+ metres in the game which mirrored the Broncos defensive effort against the Roosters the week before. Brisbane didn’t do much to help their own cause with 15 errors, 4 penalties and 4 set restarts given away during the game.

The Broncos have by far and away the fewest average Kick Metres of any team in the NRL despite having two of the best and most experienced halves in Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt.

2025 Betting Trends


ATSOver/Under1-1213+
1-12-00-11-0

Brisbane Broncos Team News


No changes made to the Broncos lineup that was beaten soundly last weekend. Kotoni Staggs is pushing for a return from injury and has been named in the reserves.

Brisbane Broncos Team List


1. Reece Walsh
2. Selwyn Cobbo
3. Deine Mariner
4. Gehamat Shibasaki
5. Jesse Arthars
6. Ben Hunt
7. Adam Reynolds
8. Patrick Carrigan 
9. Cory Paix
10. Payne Haas
11. Jack Gosiewski
12. Jordan Riki
13. Kobe Hetherington 

Interchange
14. Billy Walters
15. Corey Jensen
16. Xavier Willison 
17. Brendan Piakura

Reserves
18. Tyson Smoothy 
19. Kotoni Staggs 
20. Martin Taupau
21. Jaiyden Hunt 
​​​​​​​22. Jock Madden


North QLD Cowboys Form Analysis & Betting Trends


Recent Form


Last 5 W/LLast 5 ATSLast 5 O/U
0-20-21-1

The Cowboys sit 16th on the ladder with a -54 pt differential after the first two rounds of the season. Only Parramatta have a worse number but the next team above them in differential is the Roosters with -30.

After being toweled up by Manly on the road in Round 1 the team was looking to show some pride in defence against the Sharks in their home opener last weekend but were again blown out, losing 36-12.

Scott Drinkwater has been the only real shining star for a team that allowed 11 linebreaks to their opposition last weekend along with 38 missed tackles.

2025 Betting Trends


ATSOver/Under1-1213+
0-21-10-00-2

North QLD Cowboys Team News


Robert Derby has replaced the injured Braidon Burns on the wing and Jake Clifford returns to first grade in place of Tom Duffy who hasn’t earned the coaches trust enough to keep him in for a third week.

Jeremiah Nanai was dropped prior to last weekend’s game but has earnt a recall on the interchange and Jason Taumalolo returns from injury to the NRL in the front row. Sam McIntyre is the player to make way with Karl Lawton and Harrison Edwards getting bumped to the reserves.

North QLD Cowboys Team List


1. Scott Drinkwater
2. Robert Derby 
3. Jaxon Purdue
4. Viliami Vailea
5. Murray Taulagi
6. Tom Dearden
7. Jake Clifford 
8. Jordan McLean
9. Reece Robson
10. Jason Taumalolo
11. John Bateman
12. Kai O'Donnell 
13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange
14. Sam McIntyre
15. Jeremiah Nanai
16. Griffin Neame
17. Coen Hess

Reserves
18. Harrison Edwards
19. Tom Duffy 
20. Thomas Mikaele
21. Karl Lawton
​​​​​​​22. Jaxson Paulo

Brisbane Broncos vs North QLD Cowboys NRL 2025 Round 3 FAQ’s

How to watch Brisbane Broncos vs North QLD Cowboys NRL 2025 Round 3?

You can watch the Brisbane Broncos vs North QLD Cowboys NRL 2025 Round 3 game via Fox Sports or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside of Australia the WatchNRL app is the perfect solution.

How to buy tickets to Brisbane Broncos vs North QLD Cowboys NRL 2025 Round 3?

To buy tickets to the Brisbane Broncos vs North QLD Cowboys NRL 2025 Round 3 game check the NRL website or the official Brisbane Broncos site.

Verdict

Take the Broncos to win 1-12, the game total to go Under with both teams likely being drilled on defence following their lapses last weekend. Both Cobbo and Arthars have scored 4 tries in 2 games. 3 tries were allowed down the Cowboys right side last weekend.
Best Bet1: Brisbane 1-12 Winning Margin $3.50 at picklebet - 2 Units
Best Bet2: Under 51.5 Game Total $1.90 at PlayUP - 2 Units
Best Bet3: Jesse Arthars Anytime Tryscorer $1.67 at bet365 Australia - 1 Unit
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Brisbane 1-12
Winning Margin
$3.50 - 2 Units
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