Both clubs had a bye last weekend so fresh legs for both the Cowboys and Manly Sea Eagles shouldn’t be a problem, depending on what shape their Origin stars return in.
Manly’s captain is also the Queensland skipper – Daly Cherry-Evans – and he had to face both Trboejvic brothers, Jake and Tom, on Wednesday night. The Cowboys also had two on Origin duty with Valentine Holmes and Kyle Feldt suiting up for Queensland.
Travel could play a part in all this since this game has the shortest turnaround of any this weekend coming just 48 hours after game one of the Ampol State of Origin series.
The Cowboys have momentum coming off a 29-28 comeback win against the Warriors, while the Sea Eagles have motivation losing 18-10 to the Knights, halting their three-match winning streak.
