Brisbane Broncos vs. North Queensland Cowboys: 5 Bold Predictions for NRL 2015

The first all-Queensland National Rugby League grand final takes place on Sunday when Brisbane Broncos go up against North Queensland Cowboys in Sydney.

The two state rivals will meet for the second time in this year's playoffs.

Brisbane triumphed in their first clash, recording a 16-12 home win over North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium, Australia, on September 12.

Both teams impressed in the preliminary finals last time out, with the Broncos knocking out minor premiers Sydney Roosters by a 31-12 scoreline.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, convincingly put an end to Melbourne Storm's season, winning 32-12 on the road to reach their first grand final since 2005.

Bleacher Report has picked out five bold predictions for the big game. Remember, the emphasis is on the word "bold"!

1. Wayne Bennett Will Lose a Grand Final

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Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett has a perfect record in grand final games.

He won the title six times during his first spell in charge of the Broncos, then once more in 2010 during his tenure at St George-Illawarra Dragons.

Former Brisbane player Brent Tate revealed one of the reasons behind Bennett's success, telling Steven Ross of NRL.com:

"

I've been coached by some great coaches but Wayne is definitely the best man manager out of all of them, hands down. I think it's what Wayne's been blessed with and I think that's a big part of why he's so good—he's always got an answer for everything, whether it's life, money, relationships. Whatever it is Wayne manages to have an answer. He's been blessed with wisdom, Wayne, and he knows what to say at the right time.

"

However, all good things must come to an end. 

Bennett's legendary status is safe no matter what the result on Sunday, but the law of averages suggests he is due to come up short eventually.

2. Johnathan Thurston Won't Be the Star Man for the Cowboys

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Johnathan Thurston is the darling of the NRL right now, and rightly so.

Having led his North Queensland Cowboys to victory over Cronulla Sharks in the preliminary finals last weekend, the half-back won the Dally M award on Monday.

Thurston scooped the honour for a record fourth time, a feat no other player had previously achieved.

As the Brisbane Courier Mail pointed out: "At the age of 32, he is also the oldest recipient of the award, having also won it for the first time 10 years earlier in 2005 before going on to claim it in 2007 and 2014."

Now he can cap a momentous week off by steering the Cowboys to their maiden premiership.

However, Thurston won't end up making it an awards double, as the Clive Churchill Medal for the best player in the grand final will go to one of his team-mates instead.

3. Michael Morgan Will Win the Clive Churchill Medal

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So, if North Queensland are going to win, but Johnathan Thurston isn't going to be named man of the match, who will be the star turn for the Cowboys?

Step forward Thurston's half-back partner, Michael Morgan.

Having been shifted from full-back, the 23-year-old has excelled in his new role this season. 

He played State of Origin for Queensland this year and impressed Maroons selector Darren Lockyer, who told Chris Garry of the Courier Mail: "What makes him such a good prospect and a man who will be around for a long time is his attitude. He isn’t out for accolades. He is a great team man."

Morgan has a good record against the Broncos too, as the NRL pointed out on Twitter: "Cowboys five-eighth Michael Morgan has scored eight tries in 10 games against the Broncos."

The Broncos will focus their attention on shutting down Thurston, but they will overlook the threat Morgan poses at their peril.

4. The NRL Will Step Up Plans to Expand in Queensland

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Sydney has been the home of the NRL's showpiece game since 1998.

In 2010, the Government of New South Wales forked out a sizeable sum to make sure the grand final would remain in the city until 2022.

However, an all-Queensland showdown has led to questions about the possibility of the finale being shifted from Sydney in the future.

A crowd of over 50,000 witnessed Brisbane play North Queensland in a qualifying final, with the attendance even higher for the Broncos' preliminary final win over Sydney Roosters.

Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett, though, told Fox Sports that Sydney should remain the host city: "It’s where the grand final has always been played, it’s the biggest city in Australia—why wouldn’t you play the grand final there?"

Queensland, though, could be set to benefit if the NRL looks into either expansion or relocation of a current franchise.

Michael Chammas wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald: "If the crowds and television ratings from this year's NRL finals series are any indication, a fourth team in Queensland could do wonders for the sport, despite the struggles of the Gold Coast Titans both on and off the field."

5. There Will Be over 50 Total Points Scored

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To predict a half-century of points is ambitious, particularly when you break down the numbers.

When Brisbane and North Queensland met in the opening round of the playoffs, the two teams combined for a total of 28 points.

Taking the scores from the last five grand finals, the average number of total points scored is 34.4.

Broncos coach Wayne Bennett has a reputation for working out defensive plans to shut down opposition teams, while the Cowboys have only conceded 12 points in their last two outings.

But, this is a grand final. Defensive schemes go out the window if you find yourself trailing with time ticking away.

However, with the amount of strike power on both sides, and the fact the premiership is on the line, it is a distinct possibility that we could see 50 points or more at the weekend.

A high-scoring encounter would be wonderful for the neutrals, too.