Cowboys tame Broncos in entertaining Queensland derby

The North Queensland Cowboys have won their seventh game in a row after coming form behind to beat the Broncos 31-20 in Townsville.

The game started with an arm wrestle but the Broncos were able to strike in just the seventh minute, thanks to some lovely play between Ben Hunt and Alex Glenn that tore the Cowboys to shreds. On the next play Darius Boyd threw a great cut out pass to Lachlan Maranta who dived over in the corner.

Ten minutes later they doubled their advantage. This time it was Anthony Milford who did the damage, making a scintillating line break to give the Broncos great field position. Hunt then combined with Justin Hodges to send Jordan Kahu over on the far touchline.

This sparked the Cowboys into action and they hit back in the 20^th minute. Michael Morgan took on Milford close to the line and got the better of him, carrying his opposite number over the try line to make it a six point ball game.

Both sides then traded blows for the next fifteen minutes in what was a fast paced, high quality game. It was the Broncos who blinked first though when they allowed Thurston to run it on the last tackle in the 34^th minute. The champion halfback threw a classy short ball to Ethan Lowe and the mobile back rower stormed 30 metres to score next to the posts.

The Cowboys then hit the lead for the first time in the match with a late first half penalty goal and went to the sheds up 14-12.

The break did nothing to halt the home sides momentum either, with North Queensland only needing five minutes to extend their lead in the second half. Gavin Cooper was able to latch onto a Thurston cross-field kick over the top of Hunt and plant down the Steeden. JT converted with little trouble and the Cowboys had an eight-point advantage.

The tit for tat trend then reversed as it only took the Broncos six minutes to respond. Milford used his blistering speed to split Morgan and Lowe and race 25 metres, he then dished off the ball to Maranta who bagged his second try.

Four minutes later Corey Parker kicked a penalty goal from in front and it was 20 a piece. The game had this feeling like it was going to go down to the wire.

Enter Morgan. With the game in the balance the diminutive five-eight produced a couple of clutch plays to win his side the match. In the 69^th minute he barged through both Milford and Jack Reed to score his second try.

This was shortly followed up by a Lachlan Coote field goal with only five minutes to go. Three minutes later Morgan capped off a memorable game by again bamboozling Milford and Reed form close range, dummying and diving over with ease.

The win sees the Cowboys jump up into second spot, as the Broncos hold onto first through their superior for and against. It must be said that the Broncos defended brilliantly for extended periods tonight, and less possession in the second half ended up being the difference.

Next week the Cowboys are away to the Tigers on Saturday night as the Broncos travel to Newcastle for Monday night football.

Match Details

North Queensland Cowboys 31 Brisbane Broncos 20
Venue: 1300SMILES Stadium
Crowd: 24,531
Halftime Score: North Queensland Cowboys 14 Brisbane Broncos 12

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (31)
Tries: Michael Morgan (3), Ethan Lowe, Gavin Cooper
Field Goals: Lachlan Coote (1/1)
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Johnathan Thurston (1/1)

BRISBANE BRONCOS (20)
Tries: Lachlan Maranta (2), Jordan Kahu
Conversions: Corey Parker (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Corey Parker (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Lachlan Coote
2 points - James Tamou
1 point - Michael Morgan

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to our live coverage of the Broncos v Cowboys! Both sides are 1-17. Stay tuned for kickoff shortly between these two heavyweights of the competition!

The Broncos get us underway in Townsville!

1: Cowboys complete their first set without trouble and get a kick away through Thurston

1: Likewise the Broncos

2: Poor kick from Morgan goes straight to Boyd at the back

3: Lachlan Coote takes a great catch after Ben Hunt launched it into the nights sky

3: James Tamou with a good run

4: Hodges looking lively as usual out of dummy half

6: The Cowboys nearly earn a drop out from a Gavin Cooper kick, but it just goes dead

6: Brilliant run from Jack reed, gains 50 metres

6: Broncos on the charge, Coote with a great try saver on Glenn

6: Possible try for Maranta in the corner!

6: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Lachlan Maranta. Kick to come.
They've given it! Great build up play from Milford and Glenn who shattered the Cowboys defence.

7: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Parker has no worries from the sideline

8: Broncos complete their set strongly after points. Bennett will be happy

9: Kahu takes a towering Thurston bomb in the corner under pressure, great catch

10: Broncos beginning to get on top in the arm wrestle

11: Great offload from Granville leads to a Thurston kick that forces dropout. Time for the strike back

11: Tamou looking very strong

12: Thurstons' kick goes straight to Kahu in the in goal and the Broncs get a 20m tap

13: Broncos throwing offloads will nilly in attack

14: Hunt puts the ball dead at the end of the set

14: Coote makes a half break, Thurston takes a hit and stays down

15: The halfback gets back up and nearly creates a try for Coote. The fullback has been everywhere

17: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Jordan Kahu. Kick to come.
The winger bags a meat try in the corner! Long balls from Hunt and Hodges did the damage. The Broncos got downfield through line breaks from Milford and McCulluogh

17: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Parker slots it once more from touch and its 12-0 Broncos

18: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Adam Blair makes an unforced error.
The big man drops it as he was running up to catch the pass from the kick off. Chance for the Cowboys

20: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Michael Morgan. Kick to come.
The little five-eight does it all himself! Carries Milford over the line to score and get his side back in the game!

20: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
JT has no troubles with the kick and it's 12-6 to the Broncos

22: Broncos muscling up in defence now

24: Cowboys give away the first penalty of the game for being to slow to get off the ball carrier

24: Hodges gets away a great offload to Boyd

25: Cowboys drop the Broncos kick so the away side get six again!

26: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Jarrod Wallace makes an unforced error.
The reserve forward puts it down close to the line when his side was beginning to look dangerous

27: Adam Blair gives away a penalty to the Cowboys on their fourth tackle!

28: The Cowboys aren't able to crack the defence and Broncos have to work it away

29: Hunt puts his kick into touch, both packs would need a blow after a frantic start to the match

30: Thurston almost gets away as he runs it on the last

31: Adam Blair heads to the bench in his 200th game

32: Boyd takes a spiralling Thurston kick with ease. Been solid so far tonight

33: The game has reverted into another arm wrestle. Whoever blinks first may pay a hefty price!

34: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Ethan Lowe. Kick to come.
Thurston throws a brilliant short ball to the barnstorming second rower who races 30 metres to score near the sticks! Thurston magic

35: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston doesn't miss from there and we are locked up at 12 all

35: It was the last tackle when Thurston ran it, had the Broncs defence in 6's & 7's

37: Both sides are keeping the intensity up despite the clear exhaustion!

38: Hannant has made some solid runs since coming from the bench

38: Cowboys get one last chance after a Broncos error!

39: Thurston opts to take two points after his side receive a penalty. Its about five metres in from touch

40: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Penalty goal attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
He has no problem and the Cowboys are up 14-12 at the break!

40: The Cowboys get us back underway!

41: Coote makes a great play straight up, catching a difficult Hunt bomb

42: Boyd likewise takes a fairly difficult Thurston bomb

43: Hunt puts in a great kick and the Cowboys have to work it away from their in goal

43: Glenn does the work for them by giving away a silly penalty

44: Cowboys looking likely

45: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Gavin Cooper. Kick to come.
Called it!! The big second rower nabs a cross field kick from Thurston above Ben Hunt, reaches out and plants it down.

46: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
JT hammers it home from 15 metres to the left of the uprights and its 20-12 to the Cowboys

48: Cowboys complete after points and look more energetic than Brisbane early in the second stanza

49: Coote once again makes a great catch and breaks three tackles on his way to making 25 metres

50: Thurston puts in a pin point grubber and almost earns his side a drop out

51: The cowboys give away a penalty on the Broncos third tackle and now have to defend their own line for a whole set

52: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Lachlan Maranta. Kick to come.
The winger grabs his second but put it down to Anthony Milford. The five-eight burned through the Cowboys defence and raced 20m before dishing it off to Maranta for an easy try in the corner

53: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
We have a two point ball game!

53: It was Morgan and Lowe that Milford split on his run

54: Broncos make 70m on the proceeding set of six! Momentum has swung

55: Tamou enters the field again. His side need him to have another big shift!

56: Broncos earn a penalty in front of the sticks and opt to take the two

57: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL BRISBANE BRONCOS
Penalty goal attempt by Corey Parker successful.
The lock knocks it over and we are all locked up at 20 a piece!

59: Maranta races away to score a try in the corner but Jack Reed was offside from Hunts' kick earlier

59: Cowboys on the attack from resulting penalty!

60: Attack is looking patchy at best

60: But somehow earn a drop out from the boot of Ethan Lowe

62: Cowboys earn another drop out. This time a Coote grubber trapped Maranta in his in goal. Broncos defence is looking strong though

62: Cowboys need to crack them this set

62: Broncs muscling up

63: If it works once, try again right? Coote produces another deft grubber and Boyd can't escape his in goal

63: Brisbanes' defence is rock solid at the moment though

64: Thurston decides to run it on the tackle and gets tackled. Incredible defence from the Broncos

65: Milford puts it into touch and the Broncos get a well earned rest

67: Big call. Granville loses it on the last but refs says it touched Broncos. Six again for Cowboys in great position

68: Granville nearly sneaks over from dummy half. Thurston bombs last tackle option and the Broncos hold again!

69: McCullough goes for a 40/20 but miss hits it and goes straight down the throat of Winterstein

69: Cowboys on the surge!

69: Possible try for Morgan! Checking the grounding!

69: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Michael Morgan. Kick to come.
They've given it! Morgan did it all himself again, dummying before shrugging off both Milford and Reed to reach out and score. Great solo try

69: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Big kick from JT and he doesn't crumble under the pressure! Cowboys up by six!

72: Cowboys will surely be looking for the field goal now

73: Broncos aren't giving up. Hunt tries a little chip kick but it doesn't come off

75: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Field goal attempt by Lachlan Coote successful.
The best player on the park slots it from the left of the posts and the Cowboys might be home!

76: The Cowboys almost score again on their next set! The Broncs look gone now

77: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Anthony Milford makes an unforced error.
Milford drops it cold in the tackle and that looks like it will be game

78: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Michael Morgan. Kick to come.
The dummy does it again for Morgan! The five-eight is on fire and this time sold Reed a great dummy before diving over from close range

79: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
Thurston misses it from the sideline but it doesn't matter

80: She's all over! The Cowboys have come back from 12 points down for their seventh win in a row! Thanks for joining us tonight and stay tuned for our match report. Catch ya!