Memories of 2006 have steeled the North Queensland Cowboys as they look to avoid another NRL finals campaign to forget.

Cowboys coach Neil Henry was the first to admit that recent stats pointed to a fifth straight win for his side in Saturday night’s NRL elimination final against a wobbly Brisbane in Townsville.

But ahead of the knockout clash he was more concerned with results in 2006 when the Broncos came from the clouds to clinch a sixth premiership.

Still smarting from last year’s humiliating 42-8 opening finals loss to eventual premiers Manly, Henry said North Queensland would be prepared for anything from Brisbane in a game that will end the career of Broncos legend Petero Civoniceva or Cowboys stalwart Aaron Payne.

Six years ago the Broncos were written off after five straight losses ahead of the finals, just as they have this year following one win in their last seven games.

However, history shows Brisbane went on to win six of their next seven matches before raising the 2006 NRL trophy aloft.

Henry said the Cowboys were hell bent on ensuring history did not repeat in what will be North Queensland fullback Matt Bowen’s 250th NRL game.

“There has been plenty of speculation about their form of late but go back to 2006 when it was a similar scenario and they ended up winning the competition – we need to be on our game,” he said.

Still, Henry knew which team he would rather be coaching this weekend.

Last year’s abrupt finals exit taught Henry that winning momentum was vital ahead of September footy.

And he provided a not so subtle reminder to Brisbane that they didn’t have it.

“You’ve got something to build on, you’ve got some confidence (with momentum) – that wasn’t the case last year for us,” he said.

“But this year the last four weeks have been good for us. We can fall back on that – they (Brisbane) can’t.

“It all points to us going further into the finals but that can be misleading.

“We know we have to play some good football to get over the top of the Broncos.”

Henry refused to claim the Cowboys “had the wood” on Brisbane despite winning both derbies this year and three of their last four against the Broncos in Townsville.

Then again, the Broncos have a 14-3 record at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

Favourite son Payne may have dominated headlines ahead of his finals swansong but Henry clearly did not want Bowen’s milestone to be forgotten.

Henry’s face lit up when reminded of the livewire No.1’s 250th – an achievement that seemed unlikely three years ago when recovering from a second knee reconstruction.

“I have seen him come through that period – it is just a credit to him,” Henry said of 30-year-old Bowen, who along with Payne are the only survivors from the Cowboys’ last finals win over Brisbane in 2004.

“It’s a joy that he is now in career-best form at the back end of his career.

“But you never know, the way he is going he may play for another two or three years.”