Match Centre

FULL TIME - Souths charge late to win 30-18.

James Roberts taps and takes the tackle.

The kick-off goes out on the full.

John Asiata high to Kyle Feldt on the last but he can't get this one. It goes into touch and Souths survive.

The Cowboys have it back!

Adam Reynolds snaps the field goal attempt - it is charged down - Adam Doueihi has it, beats several tackles and is 10 out.

Adam Reynolds with the clearing kick on the last and Murray Taulagi has it for the Cowboys inside their own 20.

Dane Gagai claiming a try! Checking with the Bunker.

James Roberts with a kick on the last, it's awkward and Scott Drinkwater drops it, but strangely there's no call. Cowboys ball and now they get a penalty.

Jake Clifford tries to force the dropout on the last but it's not big enough and Cody Walker has it before sprinting up towards the 30. Souths will a roll on and they're into the Cowboys half by the third tackle.

Big chance to land the final blow. Touched by Souths and Cowboys get six again 20 out from the Rabbitohs line.

In fact - James Roberts takes it out in a one-on-one tackle and scores if he puts it down - instead he loses it over the dead-ball line. 20-metre start for the Cowboys.

Adam Reynolds with a great kick and Scott Drinkwater is trapped in-goal.

Cameron Murray with a great step close to the line and he is just held by desperate Cowboys defenders. His play the ball is too quick and Tevita Tatola gets there late, tries to barge over from dummy-half but the home side scramble to hold him up.

The Cowboys - that could have been it - Jake Granville takes them on and Murray Taulagi is over on debut but drops it with the try line begging. Can Souths make them pay straight away?

Just 37% of the ball and a 67% completion rate for Souths in this second half. They have given themselves little chance to win.

Jake Clifford bombs towards Kyle Feldt in the corner but it is too big.

James Roberts with an error and the Rabbitohs are really struggling to build any momentum or pressure in this half. Cowboys with a chance to push further ahead, they're 40 out.

Another penalty for the Cowboys from right in front of the posts. They'll take the two.

Tom Opacic earns a relieving penalty for the Cowboys who are enjoying early momentum here in the second half. Jake Clifford finds touch just over halfway.

North Queensland to start their set from inside their own 20 as well. They haven't enjoy the same roll up field this time, Jake Clifford to kick from inside the Cowboys half.

Jake Clifford to the air once more but this time Adam Doueihi confidently takes it. Souths still inside their own half though struggling for go forward.

Adam Reynolds with the clearing kick on the last. It has plenty of legs to it but unfortunately it lands straight in the hands of Scott Drinkwater.

Stat check: Jason Taumalolo has 185 running metres from 49 minutes according to NRL.com.

Powerful set after points as Adam Doueihi is trapped five out from his own line.

John Asiata with a pinpoint kick under pressure on the last and Campbell Graham has to take it dead.

A penalty and the Cowboys shoot to level things up.

Tom Amone with an early mistake. Souths cruelled late in that first half when it came to errors. Cowboys with a big chance.

Back underway.

Jason Taumalolo charges through the middle, stepping past a couple of defenders before being pulled up 20 out. One final chance for the home side but John Asiata's kick is taken by Souths and that's the half.

Adam Reynolds with an early grubber for Dane Gagai but Scott Drinkwater reads it well. Cowboys have it back.

Jake Clifford again kicks from inside the 40 but it goes straight to Dane Gagai who is tackled on the 30. Adam Doueihi with a strong carry then and quick play the ball. Campbell Graham up past halfway and this is good stuff from the Souths outside backs early.

But they come up with another error. James Roberts the man. They have come up with plenty of mistakes late in this half.

A relieving penalty for the Rabbitohs inside their own half and they are now just 40 out from the Cowboys line with a big chance to strike late before the break.

A knock-on from Souths shortly after and it matters little.

Adam Reynolds grubbers, Gavin Cooper steams onto it and offloads for Jake Clifford who tries to get past a couple of desperate Souths defenders but instead comes up with an error. Souths ball 40 out.

North Queensland come up with an error though and the Rabbitohs have it back in prime attacking field position.

James Roberts - he paces through and then eventually links with Dane Gagai. He runs out of room and throws a speculator back inside but the Cowboys have it. Adam Reynolds may have been pulled back but play on. Cowboys ball.

John Asiata kicks it to Kyle Feldt again and once more he gets above but this time can't take it cleanly. Handover.

Souths can't build any real pressure though as they hand possession right back to the Cowboys. Lowe with the error. Cowboys 30 out.

Dean Britt has the ball stripped out. Penalty Souths.

Adam Reynolds with a lovely grubber. A lack of communication almost from Scott Drinkwater and Murray Taulagi but the latter has it and gets into the field of play. Tom Opacic with a great run and the Cowboys are over the 40. Jake Clifford clears it on the last but it goes dead. He's got the right idea but execution just a bit off.

Jake Clifford with a handling error on the last and he doesn't get to the kick. Handover. Souths ball on halfway.

Jason Taumalolo - he charges through after Jake Clifford turns it back inside to the rampaging lock - Cam Murray wraps him up short of the posts and is penalised for slowing things down. They'll shoot for two.

Kyle Feldt sticks the leg out and catches the kick-off, thus making it out on the full. Penalty Cowboys.

Adam Reynolds steps, tries to thread the needle but the ball rebounds back into North Queensland arms and they survive.

Jake Clifford's grubber is a tad too big and trickles dead. Souths now with the chance to roll upfield.

Adam Reynolds with an error taking the ball up, albeit inside the North Queensland half, but they can't get to the last play as a result and the Cowboys start their new set in good field position.

Rabbitohs 40 out on the last. Adam Reynolds goes to the air and Scott Drinkwater once more is safe under the high ball.

Jason Taumalolo with a surging run over the 40 before Jake Clifford clears it towards the South Sydney 20.

Cody Walker with the bomb to finish the set. Kyle Feldt under it and the Cowboys have it back on their own 10. Their outside backs put up their hands early for hit-ups but are struggling for metres in the face for strong resistance from Souths.

Kyle Feldt with a sloppy play-the-ball and Souths are 20 out with a perfect chance to strike.

Adam Reynolds likewise with a towering bomb to finish the set and Scott Drinkwater is there to take it for the Cowboys.

Jake Clifford to the air on the last. Dane Gagai is under it and Souths have it on their own 10 to start their opening set of the game.

Underway here at Townsville. Cowboys with first use of it.

Tonight will mark Matt Scott's first game since announcing his retirement at the end of the year.

Both sides are 1-17. Murray Taulagi makes his debut for the Cowboys.

Both sides are last-start winners. The Cowboys trumping Easts 15-12 while Souths pipped Manly 21-20.

Good evening and welcome to 1300Smiles Stadium as the North Queensland Cowboys look to keep their finals hopes alive against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.