Uate crafts some space down the right flank and breaks free, finds Mullen inside but he's dragged down and his desperate offload goes to ground, where the Cowboys boot it into touch.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-6
UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Rory Kostjasyn makes an unforced error.
Kostjasyn with a forward pass to Thurston out of dummy half.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-6
McKinnon is caught on the last and it'll be a changeover on the Cowboys' 20.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-6
Ulugia with a half-break off the kick return. Cowboys attacking from halfway.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-6
UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Kane Linnett makes an unforced error.
Bowen faked to kick across field before coming back to the left, he drew well and had Linnett in plenty of space but the centre has knocked on with the line beckoning.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-6
The ball goes loose behind the Knights' attacking line. McManus goes back to clean up and sees some space on the flank, but Lui is there to bundle him straight into touch. The Cowboys have the ball from their own 40m line.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-6
Bowen tries to flick on a ball to Tate on his outside, but McManus has rushed up and intercepted the pass. The Knights have the ball from their own 30m line.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-6
Gagai tries to get outside Linnet and nearly finds some space, but the Cowboy holds on and Thurston joins in to drag Gagai into touch. A push and shove ensues but it's nothing serious. The Cowboys resume play from their own 30m line.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-6
Penalty to Newcastle - McManus flew high to take Thurston's bomb, Ulugia dragged him down and has been penalised for tackling in the air.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-6
TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Robert Lui. Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Lui dummies outside, steps around and forces his way through two would-be tacklers to scramble for the line. Thurston slots this one.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-6
Play resumes with the Cowboys on the attack. Roberts bats Thurston's chip over the dead ball line ahead of Matt Bowen chasing through.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-6
Kade Snowden has been sent off for his vicious shoulder charge. For Thompson, the diagnosis on the field seems to be a broken jaw, terrible for the young bloke.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-6
Ray Thompson is down in backfield after a bad head clash with Kade Snowden's shoulder. There's blood everywhere and the medicab has been called.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-6
SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Penalty goal attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston boots the goal and the Cowboys go up by 14.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-6
Penalty to the Cowboys - Gidley is caught for a ruck infringement. Thurston opts to go for the two points, searching to reinstate that 14 point lead.
North Queensland Cowboys 18-6
Bowen dabs the ball in behind the line early, it sits up too awkwardly for Tate in pursuit and McManus bats it dead.
North Queensland Cowboys 18-6
UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Alex McKinnon makes an unforced error.
McKinnon spills the ball deep inside his own territory, the Cowboys are on the attack from 20m out.
North Queensland Cowboys 18-6
TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Wayne Ulugia. Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
It comes up green and it's two for Ulugia on debut! Sims hit the line hard, pushed and spun, keeping his arms free for the offload. Under pressure Bowen flicks the ball on to Tate, who straightens up the defence before going wide to Ulugia unmarked on the sideline.
North Queensland Cowboys 18-6
It's a walk-in for Ulugia for the double! The refs have indicated try but we'll go upstairs to check obstruction.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-6
Bowen easily had Leilua for pace and nearly went in in the corner, but he was collared and dragged close to the sideline.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-6
UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Dane Gagai makes an unforced error.
Gagai looks to have lost it in the tackle working out from his own end. Cowboys on the attack in good field position.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-6
The Knights have lost it on the left at the end of the set, the Cowboys hang on by the skin of their teeth, great scrambling defence.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-6
Gagai breaks straight through, draws and goes to Uate, who finds Gagai again as he's dragged down! Gagai is caught just a metre short of the line!
North Queensland Cowboys 14-6
Lui stabs in a grubber but Leilua gets down well for a big man and collects it off his ankles.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-6
The cross-field kick comes down in Cowboys hands after some confusion. It's play on despite calls for a Lui knock-on.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-6
McManus makes a good break down the left wing, but he's dumped when he reaches Bowen. Knights on the attack.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-6
TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Darius Boyd. Conversion attempt by Kurt Gidley successful.
The Knights go wide to Robbie Rochow who offers a neat ball inside to a charging Darius Boyd, he slices through the gap and beats the last line of defence to claw one back for the Knights!
North Queensland Cowboys 14-6
Sims charges down the kick, Boyd dives on it and it's ruled 6 to go for the Knights on halfway. Boyd looks to have picked up an injury in the tackle.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-0
We're back with Tyrone Roberts supplying the restart. Could this be a hard blow to the Knights' chances or the final nail in the Cowboys'?
North Queensland Cowboys 14-0
Some hot-potato madness just before the siren, but the sides will go in with the Cowboys up by 14 at home.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-0
Thurston dives on a loose ball out the back and the Cowboys survive!
North Queensland Cowboys 14-0
UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Tariq Sims makes an unforced error.
Sims tried to dive on the loose ball but he's knocked on in the process. Knights on the attack 20m out.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-0
UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Matthew Bowen makes an unforced error.
Bowen tries a chip down the right edge but it's into touch on the full.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-0
Play stopped for Tate, it looks on replay like he's copped a whack across the face falling into the tackle.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-0
UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Glenn Hall makes an unforced error.
Hall spills the ball just short of the Knights' line under heavy pressure.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-0
There was nothing doing for the Cowboys after Lui's kick came down well short of the line, but the bat-back goes through hands and ends up with Tate. His grubber is knocked dead and the Cowboys have another set in good territory.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-0
A strong Knights set sees them attacking the Cowboys line, but Boyd's grubber is a little too strong.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-0
The Thurston dummy and go! JT split straight through the line and went to Cooper in support with the line open. The big second rower didn't seem to have the speed and looked for support outside, but Uate has batted the ball away and the Knights come up with it.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-0
Linnet with a half-break down the left, easy metres for NQ.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-0
SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Penalty goal attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
JT knocks it over easily.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-0
Penalty to North Queensland - Beau Scott never made the line again. JT will take the safe shot at goal.
North Queensland Cowboys 12-0
UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Darius Boyd makes an unforced error.
Boyd spills the high bomb, Cowboys attacking the Knights line.
North Queensland Cowboys 12-0
Thurston ends the set with a deft attacking grubber, but Uate collects and rejoins the field of play.
North Queensland Cowboys 12-0
Penalty to the Cowboys - Edwards is penalised for infringing in the play the ball. The Cowboys start their set 35m out from their own line.
North Queensland Cowboys 12-0
UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Beau Scott makes an unforced error.
Scott caught a late pass from Mullen but couldn't hold on under pressure. The Cowboys survive.
North Queensland Cowboys 12-0
Penalty to Newcastle - the Cowboys are caught for an infringement in the ruck. Knights mounting pressure on the line.
North Queensland Cowboys 12-0
UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Joel Riethmuller makes an unforced error.
Not a great result after points, Reithmuller loses the ball in a hard Buderus tackle. Knights ball 30m out from the line.
North Queensland Cowboys 12-0
TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Brent Tate. Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Anything the kids can do the old heads can do better! Thurston-Bowen struck up a combination that would've had Cowboys fans flashing back to earlier years. JT draws two before slipping an inside ball to Bowen powering through the line, Tate in support collects the pass and scores under the posts.
North Queensland Cowboys 12-0
TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Wayne Ulugia. Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
The young winger gets one on debut! The Knights attacked down their left edge looking to go wide to Leilua, who left the ball behind. Ulugia pounced and had too much pace for the cover defence.
North Queensland Cowboys 6-0
Penalty to Newcastle - the Cowboys infringe in the play the ball, the Knights will starts their set just their side of halfway.
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Young Ulugia on debut withstands another pressure bomb and is promptly smashed by Leilua - who appears to have come out second best.
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Mullen drags it to the right and it's run well over the dead ball line. Straight hard sets from both teams to kick off affairs this evening, the only excitement coming from the kicking games of these wonderful halves.
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Lui's bomb is high and Tate gets a hand on the ball but bats it straight to the opposition.
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Thurston's early booming kick turns Boyd around but he cleans it up safely.
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Winterstein does well to clean up Boyd's grubber and stay in the field of play.
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Penalty to Newcastle - the Knights win a penalty in their second set and will have some good field position, starting their set on their own 40.
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Game on at 1300Smiles Stadium, home town favourite Johnathan Thurston kicks off this high-stakes clash.
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Third match tonight is at 1300Smiles Stadium - Team Changes COWBOYS: Kyle Feldt is OUT replaced by Wayne Ulugia, KNIGHTS: 1-17
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Cowboys: 1. Matthew Bowen 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Brent Tate 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Johnathan Thurston (c) 7. Robert Lui 8. Matthew Scott (c) 9. Ray Thompson 10. James Tamou 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Glenn Hall 13. Joel Riethmuller.
Interchange: 14. Rory Kostjasyn 15. Tariq Sims 16. Scott Bolton 17. Ricky Thorby 18. Ethan Lowe
Knights: 1. Darius Boyd 2. James McManus 3. Dane Gagai 4. Joey Leilua 5. Akuila Uate 6. Jarrod Mullen 7. Tyrone Roberts 8. Kade Snowden 9. Danny Buderus 10. Zane Tetevano 11. Robbie Rochow 12. Beau Scott 13. Alex McKinnon
Interchange: 14. Kurt Gidley 15. Chris Houston 16. Neville Costigan 17. David Fa'alogo
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Referees & scorers:
Referee: Shayne Hayne, Alan Shortall
Touch Judges: Grant Atkins, Chris Butler
Video Referee: Paul Mellor, Matt Rodwell
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (26)
Tries: Wayne Ulugia (2), Brent Tate, Robert Lui
Field Goals:
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Johnathan Thurston (2/2)
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (6)
Tries: Darius Boyd
Field Goals:
Conversions: Kurt Gidley (1/1)
Penalty Goals: