Jack Harbidge reviews the Round 14 clash between North Queensland Cowboys and South Sydney Rabbitohs … Here’s how the game went.
MATCH TIMELINE
| Minute | Scoring Play | Score |
| 11th | Try Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs) | South Sydney 4-0 |
| 13th | Goal Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs) | South Sydney 6-0 |
| 15th | Try Connelly Lemuelu (Cowboys) | South Sydney 6-4 |
| 25th | Try Michael Morgan (Cowboys) | North Queensland 8-6 |
| 29th | Try Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Cowboys) | North Queensland 12-6 |
| 34th | Try Dane Gagai (Rabbitohs) | North Queensland 12-10 |
| 36th | Goal Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs) | Tie 12-12 |
| 39th | Goal Kyle Feldt (Cowboys) | North Queensland 14-12 |
| 45th | Try Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs) | South Sydney 16-14 |
| 47th | Goal Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs) | South Sydney 18-14 |
| 50th | Try Michael Morgan (Cowboys) | Tie 18-18 |
| 51st | Goal Kyle Feldt (Cowboys) | North Queensland 20-18 |
| 54th | Try Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs) | South Sydney 22-20 |
| 55th | Goal Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs) | South Sydney 24-20 |
| 58th | Try Mitchell Dunn (Cowboys) | Tie 24-24 |
| 73rd | Try Tom Opacic (Cowboys) | North Queensland 28-24 |
| 74th | Goal Kyle Feldt (Rabbitohs) | North Queensland 30-24 |
| 75th | Try Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs) | North Queensland 30-28 |
| 77th | Penalty Goal Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs) | Tie 30-30 |
| 79th | Field Goal Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs) | South Sydney 31-30 |
MATCH SUMMARY
1st Half
The two sides traded sets for the opening part of the first half in what was an even first ten minutes, before Adam Reynolds used his instinct to get over via a chip ten metres out from the Cowboys’ line.
Cowboys soon tried to level it up through Connelly Lemuelu down the right edge, but Feldt missed the conversion.
Having forced three line drop-outs, Cowboys continued to press the Rabbitohs line but couldn’t capitalise. Nevertheless, after a wayward pass from Michael Morgan near the Rabbitohs line, the Cowboys soaked up the start of a set from Souths and forced an error for Morgan to atone for his own error, crossing on the right edge.
The two sides continued to trade sets, with Hamiso ‘The Hammer’ Tabuai-Fidow going close before he caught an exquisite crossfield kick from Scott Drinkwater and turned Jaxson Paulo inside out to score for the Cowboys.
Souths, however, stuck in the arm wrestle and replied through Dane Gagai just over five minutes from half-time to level it up with a Reynolds conversion, before the Cowboys regained the lead with a fortuitous penalty in front of the sticks.
2nd Half
Alex Johnston opened the scoring in the second half to put Souths ahead, before Michael Morgan bagged his second try and allowed the Cowboys to get ahead after the conversion.
The lead, however, lasted a little longer than four minutes before Campbell Graham crossed to put the Rabbitohs up and effect yet another lead change. Reynolds converted the try, but it wasn’t long before Mitchell Dunn levelled the scores with just over 20 minutes to go.
Not much separated the sides until Tom Opacic scored late on, off the back of an exceptional kick from Drinkwater, and Kyle Feldt obliged with the conversion to put the Cowboys six ahead with just over five minutes to play.
Jake Granville made a soon-to-be fatal error in midfield and gifted the possession to Souths in good field position, from which they capitalised through Alex Johnston down the left edge, but Adam Reynolds couldn’t level the scores from near the touchline after calls for an eight point try claim from a Granville tackle.
The Rabbitohs, however, continued to press and converted a penalty goal from the ensuing kickoff to set up a grandstand finish, in which Adam Reynolds slotted the winning field goal to secure the Rabbitohs the win.
GAME HIGHLIGHT
Adam Reynolds stood up when his team needed him, most notably at the back end of the game with his laser-like kicking game, the highlight being Reynolds guiding Souths to an epic comeback victory with a sweetly-struck field goal from the 20 metre line. He was exceptional.
SQUADS
North Queensland Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater, 2. Kyle Feldt, 3. Tom Opacic, 4. Connelly Lemuelu, 5. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 6. Ben Hampton, 7. Michael Morgan, 8. Josh McGuire, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Jordan McLean, 11. Mitchell Dunn, 12. Coen Hess, 13. Jason Taumalolo, 14. Jake Granville, 15. John Asiata, 16. Emry Pere, 17. Francis Molo.
South Sydney Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Campbell Graham, 4. Dane Gagai, 5. Jaxson Paulo, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. Tevita Tatola, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Thomas Burgess, 11. Jaydn Su’A, 12. Bayley. Sironen, 13. Cameron Murray, 14. Mark Nicholls, 15. Liam Knight, 16. Patrick. Mago, 17. Keaon Koloamatangi.
