Thurston magic as Cowboys edge out Melbourne

A Johnathan Thurston field goal in golden point has delivered the North Queensland Cowboys an 18-17 victory over the Melbourne Storm at 1300SMILES Stadium tonight in front of a crowd of 11,609.

The Cowboys have jumped off the bottom of the ladder after claiming their first win of the 2015 season with an unlikely come-from-behind victory over the Storm on a steamy night in Townsville. The far north did not disappoint, with a warm and windy evening greeting the teams. Challenging weather conditions took their toll on the play, with both sides beginning to struggle at the back end of each half.

Johnathan Thurston was the star of the show for the Cowboys, reigniting some much needed fire in the Townsville fans. Thurston had both home and opposition team fans on the edge of their seats, slotting a field goal in the 80th minute of the match to send the game into golden point.

Thurston then proceeded to repeat the magic in the 85th minute to snatch victory from the Storm, finally kicking off the Cowboys' 2015 season.

Starting the game with a strong wind behind them, the Storm didn't take long to post the first points. In just the 8th minute, Kurt Mann crossed in the corner off the back of some great lead-up play from Cooper Cronk.

Coming off a 22-point drubbing last week at the hands of the Broncos, early signs weren't positive for the deflated North Queensland side. It looked set to be a long night for the Cowboys with little resistance from their defence and a disorganised attack in the early stages.

However, the Cowboys struck back against the run of play through a try to winger Antonio Winterstein, after a beautiful cut-out pass from Thurston hit the winger on the chest and sent him over in the corner.

The middle stages of the first half saw no change to the scores with both teams guilty of a number of unforced errors.

It was the 29th minute when the next points were added, through Storm winger, Marika Koroibete's outstanding individual effort.

Koroibete defused a bomb on his own tryline, beat three defenders and ran the length of the field to score - without a doubt an early contender for try of the season.

Melbourne crossed again in the dying minutes of the half to give us a 16-4 halftime score in favour of the Storm.

The first 20 minutes of the second half were a battle for both field position and possession. The Cowboys were seemingly the front-runners in these two departments but the combination of errors in good attacking positions and outstanding last-ditch defence from both Billy Slater and Will Chambers resulted in a fairly even playing field where the score remain unchanged.

The sway of possession in favour of the Cowboys took its toll on the storm defence as they began to tire mid way through the second half.

In the 62nd minute the Cowboys finally added to their account, with Winterstein crossing in the corner for his second try of the night. Thurston converted to make it a 6-point ball game.

The Storm continued to work through their sets and managed to get the best of the next 10 minutes of play, resulting in a field goal to Cooper Cronk. But with just 8 minutes to play and trailing by 7 points, Cowboys clicked into gear. The Cowboys forwards, lead by Jason Taumalolo (246 running metres), started to roll over the Melbourne side, finally making ground for the trailing side.

The likely combination of Thurston and Coote had threatened all night and with just two minutes to play, and on the back of two penalties, Matthew Wright crossed in the corner. Thurston converted and suddenly we had a 17-16 scoreline with just 1 minute to play.

A penalty from Ryan Hinchcliffe for an ill-disciplined strip gave the Cowboys great field position. Thurston didn't need a second invitation, locking the scores up with a field goal in the dying seconds of regulation time.

Golden point saw the Cowboys continue their run of momentum - the teams trading unsuccessful field goal attempts before Thurston calmly booted the winner, giving the Cowboys their first premiership points of the season.

Next week the Storm return to AAMI Park to host the Warriors, while the Cowboys travel to Penrith territory to tackle the Panthers. Will the momentum generated by a desperate and passionate Cowboys side continue through to the next round?

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Johnathan Thurston
2 points - Jason Taumalolo
1 point - Cooper Cronk

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (18)
Tries: Antonio Winterstein (2), Matthew Wright
Field Goals: Johnathan Thurston (2/3)
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (2/3)

MELBOURNE STORM (17)
Tries: Kurt Mann, Marika Koroibete, Felise Kaufusi
Field Goals: Cooper Cronk (1/2)
Conversions: Cameron Smith (2/3)

Welcome to the final game of Round 4. Tonight the North Queensland Cowboys host the Melbourne Storm at 1300SMILES Stadium. The Cowboys are hoping to notch their first win of the season, while the Storm come into the game with a 2-1 win-loss record to start the season and will be looking to build on an impressive 36-18 victory over the Sharks last week. Play is due to get underway at 7pm AEDT

Late team news - For the home side, Rory Kostjasyn has been relegated to the bench. Jake Granville takes his spot in the starting side. While Kelepi Tanginoa has also been ruled out, replaced by the 18th man, John Asiata. The Cowboys welcome back wingers Antonio Winterstein and Matthew Wright, with James Tamou moving from the bench to the starting side, in replace of Ben Hannant who will come off the bench.

The Storm fields the same 17 that took care of Cronulla last Saturday night despite rumours Cooper Cronk was going to be a late withdrawal. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Hymel Hunt drop off the extended bench for the visitors.

The Cowboys have a poor record against Melbourne winning only 8 of 27 clashes, including only 5 out of 16 at 1300SMILES Stadium. However, weather conditions should favor the locals tonight - very hot and windy conditions face the players in Townsville.

Game on! Referee Cummins blows time on and Johnathan Thurston gets us underway! Melbourne will have first use of the Steeden.

Conservative first set from the Storm, with and early kick on the 4th tackle from Cronk

Cowboys safely complete their first set of 6, culminating with a kick into touch 10m out from the Storm line

4: Both teams still feeling each other out in the early stages. Melbourne on the attack.

6: Cowboys looking disjointed in attack.

6: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Lachlan Coote makes an unforced error.
Kick out on the full. Giving Melbourne great field position

7: Possible try in the left hand corner for Melbourne Storms, Kurt Mann. Video ref decision pending.

8: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Kurt Mann. Kick to come.
Try time! Kurt Mann get first points for the Melbourne Storm.

9: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Great Conversion from the sideline from Cameron Smith, Melbourne leads 6-0.

10: Easy metres for Melbourne the try. After a good kick from Cronk the Cowboys are trapped deep in their own territory.

11: Another set from the Storm ending deep in the Cowboys half. Melbourne on top early.

13: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Young Tonumaipea makes an unforced error.
Error from the Melbourne Storm winner on the first tackle on his own 20m line. Cowboys best chance for points.

14: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Antonio Winterstein. Kick to come.
Great pass from Thurston leads to first points to the Cowboys. 6-4, kick to come

14: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
Score remains Melbourne 6 - Cowboys 4.

16: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
James Tamou makes an unforced error.
Average pass from dummy half puts the Storm back on the attack.

17: Great kick from Cooper Cronk at the back end of the set sees Michael Morgan tackled in goal. Drop out Cowboys.

19: Another great kick from the Storm halfback but is defused by Lachlan Coote

19: Cowboys working it out of their territory

20: Kick from Thurston is misjudged by the storm and the cowboys recover possession. 6 to go. deep on the attack.

21: The cowboys force Tohu Harris back into the in-goal to earn a repeat set after a lovely kick from Thurston.

22: Bit of a "nothing" set from the Cowboys in attack, but finished off with yet another great kick from Thurston. Another drop out from the Storm.

23: Great set play from the Cowboys sees winterstein pulled up only a metre short. Still deep on the attack.

24: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Cooper Cronk makes an unforced error.
Cronk knocks on in an attempt to defuse the last tackle kick from the Cowboys. 4th set in a row for the Cowboys. Something has got to give!

25: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Lachlan Coote makes an unforced error.
Greta defence leads to a knock on from the cowboys.

26: Relieving penalty against Ethan Lowe for a strip. Storm finds touch 40m out from cowboys line

27: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Ryan Hinchcliffe makes an unforced error.
Drop ball from the storm.

28: Very much an 'arm-wrestle' type of game so far. Neither side gaining much advantage at the moment

29: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Marika Koroibete. Kick to come.
Marika Koroibete defuses a bomb deep in his own territory, beats 2 cowboys defenders and runs 100m to score his 2nd try of the season.

30: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith unsuccessful.
Pretty simple missed conversion from Smith there, the captain won't be happy with that.

32: The heat looks to be getting to some of the players. Half time can't come quick enough for some of them!

32: Melbourne bringing the ball out of their own end. Looking to throw the ball around.

33: Storm into Cowboys 20m zone. on the last tackle.

34: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Antonio Winterstein makes an unforced error.
Cross filed kick cleaned up by Antonion Winterstein before knocking it on in his haste to play the ball.

35: Storm with a full set in attack right on the Cowboys line - smith, crank and slater look ominous

36: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Felise Kaufusi. Kick to come.
Awesome shot ball from Cooper Cronk leads to a try next to the left upright for the Melbourne Storm. Great line run by Kaufusi results in his first try of the season!

37: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Smith makes no mistake this time. He adds the two points. Two converted try lead for the visitors.

38: Three minutes out from the break.

39: Penalty goes the way of the Cowboys for offside against the Storm.

40: Cowboys have one last chance to add to their score as Coot chimes into the back line, but the movement ends in an error from the Cowboys.

40: Frantic play from the storm on their last tackle.

40: siren sounds as Billy Slater defuses the mid field bomb from Morgan. Half-time here at 1300SMILES Stadium.

40: The Storm lead the Cowboys 16-4 at half-time, here in Townsville. Both teams playing some frantic football at times with the hot weather taking its toll late in the half. It's been Cronk who has directed the Storm around the park, while for the home side Matt Scott has done a mountain of work for the Cowboys, as usual. With the Cowboys desperate for their first win of the season they will need to lift in the second half if they want the two points.

40: Play back underway in the second half

41: Good set from the Cowboys to start the second half.

42: Storm replies with their own complete set. Cowboys winning field position early.

43: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Lachlan Coote makes an unforced error.
Error from the Cowboys fullback when deep in Storm territory. the home side can't afford those types of mistakes

43: The Storm on the back of the mistake go deep on the attack.

44: Coote cleans up the grubber kick nicely. Better defensive set from the Cowboys

44: Cowboys now with the wind behind their backs but Thurston over does his kick on the last and goes dead in goal. 20m tap for the Storm.

46: Smith runs short side on the last, kicks open side but Coote cleans up once again and earns a penalty for a shot from Cameron Smith.

46: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Gavin Cooper makes an unforced error.
Cowboys pushing the pass causes another error in Storm territory. Who'd wanna be a coach?

48: Storm kick just rolls dead in goal, 20m tap for the Cowboys.

48: Show and go from Michael Morgan sees him sliced straight through but he is dragged down 5m out from the line in a last ditch tackle.

50: Last tackle kick was sub-par for the home side and is defused easily by the Storm

50: Cowboys get the ball back in good field position.

51: Kick from Thurston on the last tackle is ruled to be have played at by the Storm. 6 to go for the Cowboys.
10m out from the line.

51: Cowboys looking much better in attack this half than the first. Thurston scheming.

52: But the last tackle option wasn't the best, kick goes dead in goal. 20m tap for the Storm.

52: Cowboys have had all the running in the second half but just can't seem to crack the Storm defence.

53: Kurt Mann goes straight through off a short ball from Cronk but the pass is ruled forward. Correctly so. Cowboys scrum 30m out from their own line.

54: Lovely set play from the Cowboys sees Thurston put Coote into the backfield but the Storm cover defence scrambles well

55: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Tautau Moga makes an unforced error.
On the back of the Coote break Moga puts down a pass. Another knock-on for the Cowboys on the attack.

57: Errors starting to cost both sides - Storm have made 8 and the Cowboys 10. with still 23mins to play.

58: Cowboys again in great field position. Can they cash in this time around?

59: Another poor 5th tackle option their from the Cowboys. The grubber doesn't even make it through the first line of defence and is cleaned up by Hinchcliffe.

60: Thurston and Coote starting to combine well. With a wrap around from Coote seeing a small break up the left hand side of the field.

61: The cross field kick from Thurston is fumbled dead in goal by Koroibete. Finally a result for the Cowboys on the last tackle!

61: Cowboys inside the 20m zone once again. They have had 26 tackles inside this zone tonight for only one try.

62: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Antonio Winterstein. Kick to come.
Winger Winterstein finally breaks the drought and scores in the corner. His second try for the night.

63: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston is successful from the sideline. Lovely curling kick, riding the wind over the black dot! Back to a converted try game!

64: Cowboys with their tails up now. James Tamou leading the way with a big carry of the kick-off. Here come the Cowboys!

65: After a great set from the Cowboys they trap the Storm in the corner, however a relieving penalty goes the way of the Storm.

66: Storm work it into opposition end of the field for what seems like the first time this half!

66: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Marika Koroibete makes an unforced error.
But the attacking raid comes to a poor end after a poor pass from Slater is put down by Koroibete.

68: Cowboys forwards starting to get on top on the back of this second half possession. The likes of Jason Taumalolo, Gavin Cooper and Matt Scott starting to eat up the metres.

68: Storm defuse the attacking raid from the Cowboys.

69: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Billy Slater makes an unforced error.
Storms set of six looked likely but game to an end with a forward pass from Billy Slater. Looked hard done by.

69: Taumalolo eating up the metres again!

70: Cowboys on the last tackle into the Storm 30m

71: Kick defused by Billy Slater and then a "coach killer" penalty conceded by the Cowboys. Relives the Storm once again, but they do look out o their feet. Can the Storm hold on?

71: 10mins to go here in Townsville. It's anyones game as the Storm go on the attack after finding touch off the penalty.

72: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL MELBOURNE STORM
Field goal attempt by Cooper Cronk successful.
Last tackle, Cooper Cronk nails a field goal to give the Storm a 7 point lead.

74: A great set of six from the Storm after the field goal sees them kick the ball into touch 10m out from the Cowboys line.

74: Cowboys still looking likely, but need something to happen soon if they are going to escape this.

75: Just under 6 minutes to go. Storm backs coming in to get the Storm out of their own end. The forwards are struggling.

76: Another lovely set from the Storm, with Cronk putting the icing on top with another kick into touch close to the Cowboys line.

77: Penalty against Jess Bromwich for a grapple tackle puts the Cowboys on the attack. They need points here.

78: Thurston almost goes straight through but is dragged down from behind.

78: Another penalty to the Cowboys, against Storm centre Will Chambers for a tackle off the play.

78: Cowboys 10 metres out with a full set of 6.

78: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Matthew Wright. Kick to come.
The Thurston - Coote combination strikes again, leading to a try in the corner for Matthew Wright.

79: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
AMAZING!!!! Thurston slots if from the sideline again with another trademark curling kick. Game on! Cowboys finishing strong!

79: 1 minute remains. Cowboys have to go 80m to snatch victory here.

79: A penalty against Hinchcliffe sees Cowboys on the attack

79: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Field goal attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
BANG! Thurston locks us up here in Townsville. only seconds remain in normal time.

79: Golden point here we come! Scores locked up at the end of 80mins. Cowboys with all the momentum, but you can never right off the Storm.

80: Cowboys win the toss and choose to run with the wind - a no brainer really!

81: Underway in golden point, Cowboys with first use of the ball!

81: Up to the 40m line in three tackles. Over the half way in 4 tackles.

81: Thurston opts to kick to the corner instead of attempting a field goal. Storm pegged deep in their half.

81: Last tackle for the Storm only 30m out from the line. Cowboys will end their next set in great filed position.

83: 3rd tackle and only 20m out for the Cowboys. Thurston should go now!

84: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Field goal attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
Thurston misses the first attempt of golden point. The Storm with 7 tackles from the 20m line.

84: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL MELBOURNE STORM
Field goal attempt by Cooper Cronk unsuccessful.
After some big runs from the Storm forward pack, Cooper Cronk has his first field goal attempt of golden point but it is waved away.

85: Cowboys into position once again.

85: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Field goal attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
He's done it again! Thurston slots a field goal to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat for the Cowboys.

85: Thanks for joining us tonight. What an entertaining game of football! Despite a game littered with errors, an unlikely comeback kept us on the edge of our seats into golden point. Thurston once again showed fans why he's one of the best players in the world to get the Cowboys over the line - with a final score of 18-17. Stay tuned for the match report to come and join us on the forums for the post match discussion!