How Does the 2020 Cowboys Draw Look?

Cormac Pearson takes a look at the North Queensland Cowboys draw for season 2020.

North Queensland Cowboys 2020 fixtures

Date	Home	Time/Results	Away	Venue
2020-03-13 20:05:00March 13, 2020	Cowboys	21 - 28	Broncos	Qld Country Bank Stadium
2020-03-19 18:05:00March 19, 2020	Bulldogs	16 - 24	Cowboys	Accor Stadium
2020-05-29 18:00:00May 29, 2020	Cowboys	36 - 6	Titans	Qld Country Bank Stadium
2020-06-06 19:35:00June 6, 2020	Cowboys	16 - 26	Sharks	Qld Country Bank Stadium
2020-06-12 18:00:00June 12, 2020	Warriors	37 - 26	Cowboys	Industree Group Stadium
2020-06-20 17:30:00June 20, 2020	Tigers	36 - 20	Cowboys	Campbelltown Stadium
2020-06-27 15:00:00June 27, 2020	Cowboys	32 - 20	Knights	Qld Country Bank Stadium
2020-07-03 19:55:00July 3, 2020	Eels	42 - 4	Cowboys	CommBank Stadium
2020-07-09 19:50:00July 9, 2020	Cowboys	16 - 42	Roosters	Qld Country Bank Stadium
2020-07-19 16:05:00July 19, 2020	Panthers	22 - 10	Cowboys	BlueBet Stadium
2020-07-24 18:00:00July 24, 2020	Cowboys	12 - 24	Sea Eagles	Qld Country Bank Stadium
2020-08-01 17:30:00August 1, 2020	Cowboys	12 - 14	Raiders	Qld Country Bank Stadium
2020-08-09 14:00:00August 9, 2020	Titans	30 - 10	Cowboys	CBUS Super Stadium
2020-08-15 17:30:00August 15, 2020	Cowboys	30 - 31	Rabbitohs	Qld Country Bank Stadium
2020-08-23 16:05:00August 23, 2020	Knights	12 - 0	Cowboys	McDonald Jones Stadium
2020-08-29 17:30:00August 29, 2020	Sharks	28 - 12	Cowboys	Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
2020-09-06 18:30:00September 6, 2020	Cowboys	23 - 22	Dragons	Qld Country Bank Stadium
2020-09-13 16:05:00September 13, 2020	Storm	36 - 20	Cowboys	Sunshine Coast Stadium
2020-09-18 18:00:00September 18, 2020	Cowboys	12 - 32	Panthers	Qld Country Bank Stadium
2020-09-24 19:50:00September 24, 2020	Broncos	16 - 32	Cowboys	Suncorp Stadium

Analysis

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2019 was a year to forget for the North Queensland Cowboys, who finished well over par at 14^th. But with a new year, comes a new home, and a new Holme. A new era for North Queensland begins in 2020 with a mouth-watering Round 1 clash against their biggest rivals, the Broncos, at the brand new North Queensland Stadium.

After years of missing out, the home to a large proportion of military service-people will get to celebrate ANZAC day in Townsville against the Bulldogs.

Overall, the draw for the Cowboys is a fairly even one. Whilst they have to play the reigning premiers and minor premiers twice, they do have doubles against some lower ranked sides.

The start to their season will be crucial, playing the Broncos twice in the first five rounds. If they can get some confidence with their new spine early, a top eight return could be beckoning for the north. A magic round spectacle against the Roosters will be one to watch.

The Cowboys will have five Thursday night games and seven Friday night games, reaffirming them as one of the most watched sides in the NRL. Seven Saturday night home games will give the travelling fans a chance to see their side in the new stripes and stadium.

This draw gives the Cowboys an absolute chance of getting back into the top eight.

Teams they play twice: Brisbane Broncos, Sydney Roosters, Melbourne Storm, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Gold Coast Titans, New Zealand Warriors, Parramatta Eels, Newcastle Knights, Cronulla Sharks.

Teams they play once: West Tigers, Canberra Raiders, St George Illawarra Dragons, Penrith Panthers, Manly Sea-Eagles, South-Sydney Rabbitohs.

Bye week: Round 16