Cowboys rule the roost over Rabbitohs

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South Sydney Rabbitohs v North Queensland Cowboys

The North Queensland Cowboys have powered home to defeat the South Sydney Rabbitohs 31-6 on Sunday afternoon.

Piling on four second half tries before a crowd of 11,262 supporters at Accor Stadium, the Cowboys claimed their first win in Sydney this season after four previous losses south of the border. 

In a closely fought opening which saw both teams tussle for the ascendancy, the Rabbitohs appeared most likely to score through Richie Kennar only for the Cowboys defence to rise to the occasion.

With both teams continuing to trade sets midway through the half, Cameron Murray was forced from the field after copping an accidental knee from Jake Granville; the South Sydney captain subsequently returned to the field after passing his head injury assessment. 

In a sign of fatigue which saw Alex Johnston fail to hold onto a cut-out pass from Cody Walker, the Cowboys capitalised on the half hour mark with Tom Dearden, celebrating his 50th game for the club, delivering a cut-out pass to Murray Taulagi (30th minute) to break the deadlock.

A field goal to Scott Drinkwater as the halftime siren sounded gave the visitors an unexpected 5-0 lead at the change of ends.

Blowing the game open immediately after the break courtesy of Drinkwater making an incisive run and finding Valentine Holmes (44th minute) in support, a tap back by Taulagi in the following set saw Holmes (47th minute) put the visitors up 17-0.

Needing to stem the flow of points to have any chance of getting back in the contest, a show-and-go by Lachlan Ilias (59th minute) from a scrum saw the Rabbitohs score underneath the posts.

Going beyond two converted tries with a penalty goal to Holmes just over the hour mark, a strong run from Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (70th minute) saw the young forward seal the result with his second touch of the game.

A late try to Dearden (77th minute), pouncing on a dropped ball from Blake Taaffe, saw the Cowboys run out 31-6 victors with their third win in succession.

Next week, the Rabbitohs head across the Tasman to face the Warriors on Friday night, while the Cowboys will host the Tigers at home on Saturday evening.