Friday’s football begins with the game of the round as leader Penrith faces the Cowboys.
Then it’s a Queensland showdown, as the Broncos are looking to beat the top four while hosting the Titans.
See all live results and stats below.
Brisbane vs. Gold Coast
Team statistics
Game by game
Penrith 22 defeated Nth Queensland 0
Penrith’s long streak of dominance has continued as they halted the streak of six consecutive NRL wins in North Queensland with a 22-0 loss to the Cowboys at Bluebet Stadium.
On another Panthers clinical night, the locals dominated the ball, territory and scoreboard to secure a four-point lead at the top of the table entering the representative period.
Dally M leader Isaah Yeo was again Penrith’s best, while Jarome Luai impressed and Nathan Cleary led the game with ease in his last game before State of Origin.
The only concern for NSW coach Brad Fittler could be a possible Luai five-eighth late shoulder load on Scott Drinkwater.
And while his large Origin contingent means Penrith will be hit hard in the next two months, the question remains: can anyone challenge the Panthers in 2022?
Team statistics
Only Parramatta has beaten Penrith in the first 12 rounds, but the Eels have struggled for consistency.
In comparison, Penrith easily outscored second-placed Melbourne, seventh-ranked Sydney Roosters and third-ranked North Queensland in the three weeks since that defeat.
His first attempt on Friday night came through Yeo when Apisai Koroisau came out of the middle and put the block to score.
The next one came when Izack Tago broke the left edge after a good work by Viliame Kikau and Jarome Luai, before a speculative pick helped Dylan Edwards cross.
Another attempt came when the Cowboys stripped down the numbers and Brian To’o crossed before the break.
Five-eighth-place Luai put Taylan May ahead of Penrith’s only attempt in the second half.
Luai aside, the other concern for Penrith will be if Kikau is charged with a late shot and a dangerous throw.
North Queensland weren’t so bad as the scoreboard suggested.
They completed just 60 percent, but were barely given a chance to attack, as the Panthers controlled almost the entire ball on the Cowboys’ line.
And to the credit of North Queensland, they were able to hold on.
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At one point in the first half, the Cowboys held on for 28 consecutive plays before Izack Tago crossed just to put his arm on the line as he planted the ball.
Penrith typically averages one try every 8.5 plays in a rival’s 20-yard line, according to Fox Sports Stats.
But on Friday night, that figure rose to one in 17 plays in a statistic that defined North Queensland’s resilience.
But still, the Cowboys would have been disappointed to waste their opportunities.
Valentine Holmes saw his fine effort strike the top of the bar following some good work up the middle by his teammates after 80 minutes.
Griffin Neame also lost the ball under the posts in the middle of the second half.
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Posted 2 hours, 2 hours ago, Friday, May 27, 2022 at 8:00 AM, updated 5 minutes ago, 5 minutes ago, Friday, May 27, 2022 at 10:22 AM