Andrew Pelechaty reviews the second Queensland Derby of the round: North Queensland vs the Gold Coast.
Result
North Queensland Cowboys 24
Tries: (4) Jeremiah Nanai 35th; James Tamou 44th; Valentine Holmes 50th; Tom Chester 72nd
Goals: (4) Valentine Holmes 36th, 45th, 51st, 73rd
Gold Coast Titans 12
Tries: (2) Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3rd, 56th
Goals: (2) Tanah Boyd 4th, 26th
Field Goal:
Report
Coming off the big win over Melbourne, the Gold Coast were first to score in Townsville. The Titans attacked down the left, with Alofiana Khan-Pereira scoring in the corner (backing up his double against the Storm). Tanah Boyd converted for a 6-0 lead.
There was bad news for the Titans, with Kieran Foran and AJ Brimson leaving the field – neither would return.
North Queensland had a chance to reply through Gehamat Shibasaki – off a bomb – but there was knock-on in the contest for the footy.
The Titans got an easy two points when Tom Chester was penalised for a strip with two in the tackle.
The Cowboys got a crucial try just before the break when Jeremiah Nanai scored. Valentine Holmes converted to trim the Titans’ lead to 8-6 at half-time.
The Cowboys hit the lead early in the second half when James Tamou crashed over. Holmes converted for a 12-8 lead. This game was following similar rhythms to last night’s Broncos vs Dolphins game, when the Dolphins came back from an 8-0 deficit to lead 12-8.
North Queensland went further ahead when Holmes intercepted a long pass from Boyd and ran 90 metres to score. It was potentially a 12-point turnaround, with the Titans deep in attack.
The Titans got back in the game when Khan-Pereira scored his second straight try double. Boyd hooked the sideline conversion as the Cowboys led 18-12 with 20 minutes left.
There was a blow for the Cowboys when Nanai was sin binned for a dangerous tackle. Could the Titans take advantage?
The Cowboys put the game away with one of strangest tries of the year: Chester ‘Falconed’ the ball, kicked it ahead, Jayden Campbell couldn’t regather, and Chester scored. Holmes converted to give the Cowboys a 24-12 lead.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Valentine Holmes (Cowboys)
2 – Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans)
1 – Tom Chester (Cowboys)
