KEY POINTS:
5
The number of years since the Cowboys have won at home in an afternoon match. The fact they haven't played a day game at Dairy Farmers is merely a minor detail. The Cowboys have a record of just 12 wins in their last 29 day games (41 per cent).
28-31
Depending on who is doing the forecasting, Townsville is expected to reach temperatures of between 28degC and 31degC today, with a humidity level of 53 per cent. Auckland might top 17degC today. The last time Auckland got over 30degC was in January 1999 when the power cables melted and plunged the Auckland CBD into a month-long blackout.
18-12
The score the last time these two sides met in Townsville. The Cowboys raced out to an 18-0 lead inside 47 minutes, scoring two tries when Patrick Ah Van was in the sinbin. The Warriors could well have won the match but for a controversial disallowed try to Wade McKinnon for obstruction that convinced the NRL to change their rules.
4433
The number of metres Steve Price has tucked the football under his arm and run for this season. It's a record for a forward in a season, eclipsing the 4380m Jason Stevens achieved for Cronulla in 2001. He now needs just 157m to surpass Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello's 2003 and 2004 efforts and former Brisbane winger Wendell Sailor's 2001 mark. Price also leads the NRL for the number of hitups (493) and charge downs (8) and is likely to top the preferred Prime Minister stakes if the Warriors win the title this season.
1994
The year that Ruben Wiki lined up against Jason Smith in the grand final. Wiki's Raiders beat Smith's Bulldogs 36-12 in that match, in what was the end of Canberra's golden era of three titles. Both have secrets to their longevity - Wiki credits kava, while Smith is known as a beer-swilling, cigarette-puffing likeable rogue.
-71
The Cowboys' points differential in the regular season. North Queensland leaked the most points of any side not only in the top eight (618) but also the top 13. Only Canberra (652) and Newcastle (708) had a worse defensive record and contributing to this was a staggering average of 42.8 missed tackles a match. The Warriors conceded 434 points in the regular season - the fifth best in the NRL - and missed 30.64 tackles a game.
92.3
The goalkicking accuracy percentage of Warriors five-eighth Michael Witt. Although he missed a crucial one in the 12-10 defeat to Parramatta last weekend, he still tops the NRL accuracy charts with a remarkable 60 from 65 attempts this season. If he maintains that level, he will eclipse Matthew Ridge's all-time record of 89.9 per cent. Cowboy Johnathan Thurston is kicking at 78.7 per cent (70 from 89) this season.
4
The number of times referee Tony Archer has controlled both the Cowboys and Warriors this season. North Queensland have done quite well under the former police prosecutor, winning three of those four games, while the Warriors have lost three of four in 2007, including last weekend's 12-10 loss to the Parramatta Eels.
928
The number of tackles Micheal Luck has made this season, at an average of 37.12 a game. The indefatigable Warriors lock leads the NRL's tackle count, ahead of Sydney's Craig Fitzgibbon (902) and Parramatta's Nathan Hindmarsh (867 before last night). Luck will need to be at his efficient best to contain the likes of Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen but, if he can, it's a fair bet he will be needed to make a few more next weekend.
