Cowboys win an instant classic in Townsville

v BYE

They did it once again. It took more than 80 minutes but the Cowboys prevailed 26-20 in a historic game at 1300 SMILES Stadium.

Every time the Broncos and Cowboys hook up, it seems to be decided by the slimmest of margins. It was the same combination as the Grand Final, Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan who combined to put the Cowboys into the Preliminary Final. 

With 83 minutes on clock, Thurston ducked through the line, and just found that extra space to send Morgan and the North Queensland crowd in raptures even if they didn't know the game had to continue. 

Stubborn defense won the day as Broncos tried to throw everything they could after almost 90 minutes of absorbing football. Brisbane once again looked like they were going to finish off the Cowboys but the premiers refused to die. 

Brisbane came out of the blocks fast though, Andrew McCullough exploited the gap in the defense to dive across. Kahu added two goals and with ten on the clock, it was 8-nil to the visitors and a sense of deja vu from last season. 

It was a frantic contest and the Cowboys responded in style. Kalyn Ponga weaved magic around the defense but was pinged for a shepherd. A few minutes later, Kyle Feldt started the break and the unlikely second rower, Coen Hess finished it off for 8-4. Thurston added a penalty goal to reduce the deficit to two. 

There was a final twist before the half, Lachlan Coote, who has been sublime at the back for the Cowboys all season spilled a grubber that allowed Jordan Kahu to pounce and restore the eight point lead at half-time. 

The pace of the contest never dissipated, both teams went 100 km/h after the break, Jason Taumalolo tirelessly pounded the defense. Cowboys knew they needed to be first on the board and they made it a 1-2 punch. Justin O'Neill found space twice to torment Alex Glenn and hand the home side an 18-14 advantage. 

As the two sides tired, Broncos looked out of it.. but they conjured something special. Corey Oates got the legs pumping into wide open space, and 20-18 with less than ten to go, the contest in the balance. 

North Queensland threw everything they could at the Broncos, keeping it alive on the last tackle, Thurston magic but it seemed this time, Brisbane would be celebrate. That was until an unfortunate trip from Matt Gillett. 

The Queensland representative stuck a leg out on Thurston as he offloaded, spied by the referee and a penalty. Much like the Grand Final, Thurston had a pressure kick, this time to level. The three time Dally M winner took his time and sent us into extra time. 

Cowboys moved into an extra gear and Thurston delivered the magic, to once again prevail over big brother. They are off to a preliminary final against the Cronulla Sharks next Friday night while Brisbane farewell Corey Parker and lick their wounds into next season.