Cowboys pip Sea Eagles in a Monday night thriller

v BYE

North Queensland outlasted a young Manly side 30-26 on a steamy Monday night in front of 15,584 fans at 1300 SMILES Stadium.

You could be forgiven for thinking this game was over at the break when the Cowboys were slick enough to put themselves ahead 18-4 against a downbeat Sea Eagles side.

It was a tight first twenty as Jason Taumalolo found wide open space to steam through for the opener. Sea Eagles responded through a long range effort started by the Trbojevic's and finished by Daly Cherry-Evans to make it 6-4.

Cowboys showed their premiership credentials though in the last twenty before the break, as Johnathan Thurston orchestrated a sweeping attacking moves finished well by Antonio Winterstein before Jake Granville stepped up in the absence of Michael Morgan and piloted a kick for Lachlan Coote to jump onto and seemingly break the spirits of the visitors. 

No one told the Sea Eagles though, they fought back with three tries after the break, scored by the big men who had a night out in Townsville. Siosaia Vave crashed onto a Apisai Koroisau pass in the 45th minute to bring it within eight. 

As the clock ticked over the hour mark, the Sea Eagles had the lead! Former Dragon Holden Cup prospect Addin Fonua-Blake crossed in the 53rd minute for his first NRL try then shortly after, had a double! A Stirling offload gave the interchange forward the room to crash over and make it 20-18 to the visitors. 

Cowboys thought they quelled the stubborn resistance when two different JTs found their way over the tryline. First James Tamou muscled his way over before Taumalolo finished off a blazing move from inside the Cowboys half for a 30-22 lead.

Manly set up for a grandstand finish when once again the Trbojevic boys linked up to create room. Cherry-Evans weaved past the defense and grubbered for Lewis Brown to bring them within four. 

The home side held firm though, to record another victory at home and record a valuable two points.

Next Monday the Sea Eagles will back up for their third straight Monday night clash when they host the Dragons at Brookvale, while the Cowboys stay in North Queensland - albeit a few of hours north - in Cairns for a clash with South Sydney next Sunday.