North Queensland Cowboys share secret to their recent success in NSW after knocking out Newcastle in thriller: ‘It is a personal obligation to the team’

North Queensland will be looking for their fifth straight win in Sydney in the elimination final against Cronulla. And something as simple as all the players going to bed early before the match has paid off.

The Cowboys have struggled in the past when leaving Townsville, but have won their last six away games and, more importantly, their last four in the New South Wales capital.

To win the title, given they are at the Penrith end of the schedule, they need to win the next three finals in Sydney, starting with Friday night’s showdown with the Sharks.

“We talked about our away games at the start of the season and everyone follows their routine in the same way,” Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater told AAP after the 28-16 knockout final win over Newcastle.

‘We all go to bed at the same time as we do at home. When you’re on the road in a team, it’s easy to stay up a bit later.

“It’s a personal commitment to the team to do what you would do for home games, where you hang out by yourself or with your wife and you normally go to bed a bit earlier. That’s one of the reasons why our away form is better.”

Three of their four wins in Sydney came against teams in the top eight. North Queensland defeated the Sydney Roosters 18-16, beat Penrith 16-6 and beat Canterbury 44-6 last week. The team’s defence was essential to all those victories after they had been written off by critics.

“We can play a little bit more freely (in Sydney), but with the expectations we have here at home,” Cowboys coach Todd Payten said after the win over the Knights in Townsville.

‘We’ve put a lot of effort and work into our routines, what we do the night before in our hotels and what we do on the day of the game, and it’s paid off.

‘Our confidence has grown with win after win in Sydney and we know we are very capable.’

The Sharks and Cowboys have faced each other in the finals five times since 2013, with North Queensland leading 3-2.

Their last meeting in the semifinals was a 32-30 win over the Cowboys in the 2022 qualifying final, when Valentine Holmes scored a two-point field goal in overtime.

Payten said the Cowboys would “do what we’re paid to do” against Cronulla.

“They are a good defensive team and are quick and athletic on the field,” he said.

“They’ve got some big bodies and they’re skilled. It’s going to be a great match.”