A stellar performance from the North Queensland Cowboys on Thursday night saw them narrowly defeat the Brisbane Broncos 34-30 at 1300SMILES Stadium.
MATCH DETAILS
Prior to kick-off, a host of changes were made to the line-ups of both the Cowboys and the Broncos. For the Cowboys, centre Enari Tuala was omitted in favour of Gideon Gela-Mosby. Broncos coach Wayne Bennett elected to elevate Patrick Mago into the starting side for Matt Lodge and after passing a late fitness test, Tevita Pangai Junior was named on the interchange bench at the expense of Sam Tagataese.
Countless handling errors in the opening exchanges set the tone for what would be a scrappy first half. A penalty in the 3rd minute gave Broncos winger Jamayne Isaako the opportunity to put his team out to a 2-0 lead. Despite the Broncos looking more ominous in attack for the following 5-minute period, it was Cowboys centre Gideon Gela-Mosby who managed to secure the first try of the Queensland Derby, courtesy of a beautifully weighted grubber kick from fullback Te Maire Martin. A penalty to the Cowboys in the 15th minute saw captain Johnathan Thurston to extend their lead to six points. The second try of the match came in spectacular fashion, with wrecking bull Jason Taumalolo stepping his way to the try line after pouncing on a loose ball. The response from the Broncos came just three minutes later, when speedster James Roberts sprinted 90 metres to score after taking advantage of a floating pass from Cowboys fullback Te Maire Martin. A handling error from the Cowboys in the 24th minute gifted the Broncos valuable field position. After receiving a short ball from hooker Andrew McCullough, Matt Lodge ran over the top of Coen Hess to score under the posts and put the Broncos out to a two-point lead (eight point try). Two penalty goals from the Cowboys, in the 32nd and 39th minutes, sent them into half-time with a narrow 18-16 lead.
Despite being an error-riddled first 40 minutes, both teams emerged with more discipline and intent. Back-to-back penalties to the Broncos in the 43rd and 49th minutes allowed Isaako to level the game at 18-18. On the back of a repeat set, good dummy half play and a clever no-look pass from McCullough saw Bronco Korbin Sims score his third try in just two weeks. The Broncos’ attacking brilliance continued just four minutes later, when halfback Kodi Nikorima delivered a pinpoint short ball to a rampaging Tevita Pangai Junior who elevated the score to 30-18. However, as they have done so many times before, the Cowboys came from behind to break the hearts of Broncos fans. Three tries in the last 17 minutes of play, to Kyle Feldt (63rd minute), Gavin Cooper (65th minute) and Coen Hess (76th minute), gave the Cowboys a well-deserved, 34-30 victory.
FOUR POINTERS
Game of Two Halves
This Round 22 clash shaped up to be two very distinct halves of football from both the Cowboys and Broncos. Countless handling errors and unnecessary penalties plagued the contest in the first 40 minutes, before a resurgence at half time ensured that both teams emerged with more intent to complete their sets, have a high tackle efficiency and utilise the clever kicking game of their halves.
Yet Another Close Encounter
After being narrowly defeated 24-20 earlier this season, the Cowboys set out to make amends and put a dagger in the Broncos’ premiership hopes. In their best defensive performance of the season, the Cowboys managed to force 10 errors and restrict the Broncos’ completion rate to just 7/15 in the first half. Despite the Broncos tidying up their defence in the second half, it was the Cowboys’ first half effort that proved the difference in this epic Queensland Derby.
Cowboys’ Forwards Terrific
Despite having struggled at certain times in 2018, forwards Matt Scott, Jordan McLean and Jason Taumalolo were instrumental in helping the Cowboys secure their sixth win of the season. Between them, they had 59 runs for a whopping 658 metres, made 57 tackles and produced 3 offloads. The power and go-forward that each player provided, particularly in the second half, provided the Cowboys with the spark that they have been lacking.
Broncos’ Top Four Hopes Dashed
With the Broncos still sitting in seventh place on 26 competition points, this defeat has all but eliminated the boys from Brisbane from the race to the top four. With a points differential of -10, the Broncos will have to convincingly win their remaining three games against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Sydney Roosters and Manly Sea Eagles if they are to make a late charge.
THE RESULT
North Queensland Cowboys 34
Tries: Gideon Gela-Mosby, Jason Taumalolo, Kyle Feldt, Gavin Cooper, Coen Hess
Goals: Johnathan Thurston 6, Kyle Feldt 1
Brisbane Broncos 30
Tries: James Roberts, Matthew Lodge, Korbin Sims, Tevita Pangai Junior
Goals: Jamayne Isaako 7
SQUADS
North Queensland Cowboys: 1 Te Maire Martin, 2 Kyle Feldt, 19 Gideon-Gela Mosby, 4 Kane Linnett, 5 Justin O’Neill, 6 Jake Clifford, 7 Johnathan Thurston, 8 Matthew Scott, 9 Jake Granville, 10 Jordan McLean, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Coen Hess, 13 Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: 14 Ben Hampton, 15 John Asiata, 16 Corey Jensen, 17 Scott Bolton.
Brisbane Broncos: 1 Darius Boyd, 2 Corey Oates, 3 James Roberts, 4 Gehamat Shibasaki, 5 Jamayne Isaako, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Kodi Nikorima, 15 Patrick Mago, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Sam Thaiday, 11 Alex Glenn, 12 David Fifita, 13 Joe Ofahengaue. Interchange: 8 Matthew Lodge, 16 Korbin Sims, 17 Kotoni Staggs, 21 Tevita Pangai Junior.
