Cowboys down Dragons to move into third on NRL table
North Queensland have seen off a spirited challenge by St George Illawarra 31-12 at home to win their 10th game of the season and cement themselves in the competition’s top four.
The Cowboys have a knack of turning up their defensive intensity in second halves and held their opposition to just the one try in the second stanza, much to the delight of coach Todd Payten.
Their 46 points conceded in second halves through 14 rounds this season is the NRL’s best. They also held their opponents to 12 points or fewer for the 10th time in 2022.
“What’s allowing us to play with some freedom, with some ball movement, is the fact that we’re willing to back it up with errors or penalties with our D,” Payten said.
Tries for Connelly Lemuelu and Murray Taulagi at the beginning and end of the second half capped off an error-strewn evening. The home side were still well in control, however, having scored three tries to one in the first stanza.
Even though the Dragons enjoyed the lion’s share of territory in the second half, they could only capitalise late on through a try by Jaydn Su’a in the 74th minute.
Their play-the-balls deep in the final third were shut down with punishing defence by the Cowboys.
Hooker Reece Robson paved the way with 43 tackles, none better than on former teammate Francis Molo on his tryline to force an error late on.
Payten called his hooker’s performance their best, if not on a par with co-skipper Jason Taumalolo.
The Tongan wrecking ball was barnstorming through the middle, leading all players with 191 metres off 18 carries, while Jordan McLean carried well to finish with 124.
Valentine Holmes backed up his origin defensive heroics with another classy performance, and his coach said there wasn’t much stopping him running out at home in his 150th NRL game.
In the first half, the home side were the first to score when Tom Dearden capitalised on deep territory, putting Coen Hess through a hole before he offloaded to a surging Scott Drinkwater to plunge over.
They then went back-to-back as Dearden forced a goal-line dropout, with Drinkwater turning provider on the resulting set, grubbering to the in-goal for Peta Hiku to bag their second.
A penalty goal by Holmes made it 14-0 after 22 minutes before the Dragons had their first real crack at the line but Cody Ramsey’s try was overturned due to obstruction.
Moments later the home side had their third after a deft pass by Taumalolo in midfield put Griffin Neame through a hole, he in turn finding a supporting Robson to score against his former club.
Moses Suli’s try before halftime gave the Dragons some hope but the Cowboys kept them at arm’s length to secure the win.
But in a blemish for the Cowboys, they lost young-gun backrower Heilum Luki to a suspected ACL injury in the first half.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
7 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to comments