Pat Carrigan has been around long enough to know North Queensland's dire form is no barometer to how they will play against Brisbane.

"With Broncos and Cowboys games, form never matters, it's who is willing to compete," Broncos forward Carrigan said.

"Ever since I have watched the game as a kid, they have always been exciting. It means a lot to both clubs these matches."

The Cowboys have been walloped by Manly and Cronulla to start the season but welcome back 2015 premiership winner Jason Taumalolo, who will wrangle with Carrigan up front in Friday night's clash at Suncorp Stadium.

The Cowboys have also recalled Queensland back-rower Jeremiah Nanai to the bench and half Jake Clifford, who played Queensland Cup last week in his first game back from hernia surgery.

Brisbane have won the last three Queensland derbies and hold a slender 10-8 lead in the previous 18 clashes between the clubs, and a 40-20 advantage overall with two games drawn.

Incredibly, the Broncos were unbeaten in the first 16 matches the clubs played against each other (with 14 wins and two draws).

But the Cowboys won the 2015 grand final - 17-16 in golden point. Only Brisbane five-eighth Ben Hunt and North Queensland prop Jason Taumalolo are survivors from that clash.

Last year the Broncos won both derbies, despite finishing 12th and the Cowboys coming fifth.

The presence of Taumalolo for his first NRL game of the season after foot surgery has rid the Broncos of any complacency.

"He is a great player," Carrigan said.

"His performances speak for themselves and the last 10 years he has been the form forward of the comp. He will be a massive lift for those boys and he does his best work at Suncorp, so we have to be on this week."

Carrigan was superb in the opening-round win over Sydney Roosters, but last week against Canberra the Broncos' pack was overpowered in a disappointing loss.

"We missed the mark on our standards and we know that," Carrigan said.

"(Coach Michael Maguire) stressed it's a long year, but week in week out the NRL is a tough competition and we didn't respect the footy enough in round two and we got bitten on the backside for it.

The player of the match on Friday night will win the Carl Webb Medal in honour of the late forward who was a powerhouse for both clubs.

Carrigan won the award in the corresponding match last year.

"It was special to win the medal," Carrigan said.

"My memories of Charlie (Webb) is when he put the Q in his head (via a haircut) and ran out for Queensland. Both teams have special players and we will be up for it."