The Sea Eagles saw this out well. FULLTIME. They soar into the top eight.
Hammer almost hurts them. Cust tries to dribble one deep but Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow goes about 60 metres just beating players for fun. It sets up something for the Cowboys but the move breaks down. CHALLENGE from the Cowboys. UNSUCCESSFUL.
Cowboys try to throw it around but the final pass to Feldt is forward, lost.. take your pick.
An inside ball to Feldt gets the Cowboys rolling but no thrust. The short kick from Asi trapped Parker for the dropout though.
Feldt converts quickly.
There is light left for the Cowboys! Molo strides over from a short ball from McGuire.
Cowboys go short and get it back! Can they muster something here?
Tonight has been a stroll through the goalkicking park for Garrick tonight. Another close to the sticks and he adds the extras.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! Yep he has. Cust goes himself on the final tackle and gets rewarded.
BUNKER TIME! Cust might have sealed it here.
OH NO! Hess had all the hard stuff done. Asi stabs it through, the big man was the only one there and stuffs it up.
Henry Perenara calls a knock on as Elliot muffs the catch. Looks like it went back. Sea Eagles won't challenge. THIS will the Cowboys chance to get back into the game.
PENALTY SEA EAGLES! Elliot takes it easily but was clipped in the air.
Third kick for The Reuben. He has another easy shot and nails it.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! It was almost a miracle but he just got it down! DCE was rollin' like it was a Limp Bizkit video and eventually.. gets it down.
BUNKER TIME! Have the Cowboys saved this? Cust cut them open, then sent the halfback over.
Here come the Cowboys! They let the ball go dead and Feldt is roped in.. with a leg pull. SET RESTART. Can they produce here?
PENALTY SEA EAGLES! Taupau has it ripped out. Two in the tackle despite Molo's protests.
Cowboys were given six more after Taufua slips it. They shift left and the arching ball to Asi rolls over the sideline.
RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! Clearly held up. Cooper plays it..
BUNKER TIME! Gavin Cooper is rippin and a tearin' but does he get it down?
PENALTY COWBOYS! Some movement for the home side. Robson's dart gets them a SET RESTART then Gilbert is clipped high. Here we go.
Sea Eagles stride through in their first set but the ball goes down.
Here we go! Hope everyone is refreshed and comfy. We're ready for the second half as Manly strolls out with a six-point advantage. Some good news, as it looks like Joel Thompson will be fine for the visitors. Cowboys took their time to get into the contest but struck late through Kyle Feldt. Can they keep that going for the second forty? we'll find out.
Rushed attempt and DCE shanked it. HALFTIME.
PENALTY SEA EAGLES! That wasn't needed in the final minute. Cowboys have some late defending to do. Offside.
Cowboys go left this time with the kick. It was brought down by Tabuai-Fidow but he can't make anything of that. Sea Eagles ball.
Now looking to convert his own effort, Feldt steadies and puts it over.
Kyle Fedlt takes the mark. Clifford with another pin-point kick, the veteran winger flew high and touched down.
What was Taumalolo doing there! Cust rocketed a kick sideways which the big forward handles and gets his side a PENALTY.
RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! Jack Gosiewski never got it down! Superb effort from Mitch Dunn to hold him up. Play the ball.
BUNKER TIME for the first time tonight! Jack Gosiewski might have barged over.
Nothing has gone right for the Cowboys this half. McGuire tries to power through the line, bobbles it slightly and judged to have knocked on.
The Reuben Sandwich puts that one through.
Levi goes bang! Sea Eagles are gifted the restart on first as Parker goes close. Levi spotted the gap and burrows over.
That was much ado about nothing. There was some wrestle in back-play and it was cleared. From the restart. Justin O'Neill just coughs it up. Sea Eagles can soar here.
The Hammer almost drops on the Cowboys with the fullback dropping it. He recovers and the home side can ruck it out. Touchie is in.. hang on!
Eagles are pushing again, looking to go up double digits. Addin Fonua-Blake tries to play it quick, loses it.
Back-to-back errors for the superstar. He tries to get the Cowboys rolling again but just drops it cold.
That was almost a slips catch from Jack Gosiewski from the Eagles. The bleach blonde forward grabs a rebounding ball but makes the spill then Cowboys return in kind. Scrum Cowboys.
Cowboys look promising again but can't find a killer ball. The attack continues to be clunky and disjointed. Robson gets them going forward off a jet then Taumalolo loses it trying to get some second phase play.
Pin-point kick from Clifford! He chipped it enough for Taufua to take but the Manly winger was driven back in-goal.
Nope. Cowboys try a face ball but it rebounds straight into a Sea Eagle.
PENALTY COWBOYS! Some relief for the Cowboys after they were bombarded at the start. Can they create something in this set?
Sea Eagles try the powerplay on last but Suli can't gather.
PENALTY SEA EAGLES! Taupau is clipped high. Sea Eagles rolling downhill now.
Reuben Garrick with his first crack of the night. The tall winger walks in, nails it.
Cowboys had to crack! Sironen spins right round, like a record player, and scores.
Pressure is building here! DCE this time rolls one through and catches the defenders in-goal. Levi went close, so did Cust but the Cowboys have held firm thus far.
Sea Eagles poked holes through the Cowboys defense there. Cust dribbled through and Feldt is there to deny Thompson the opener. We have time off with the forward down with an injury. He is up and we're back.
PENALTY SEA EAGLES! Cowboys after a short kick were too eager getting off their line. Offside.
KICK-OFF! Sea Eagles loft it high and we're underway!
We get our first look at Josh Hannay as Cowboys coach. He has chosen the box for his debut game, as we switch back to the Sea Eagles rooms! They are ready to stroll out, wearing their maroon jerseys onto the Townsville surface. Next up, the Cowboys head out in their home kit, looking to continue strong form at home. Addin Fonua-Blake is back for the visitors as well. Kick-off is moments away
Happy Friday! We've all got through another week, so sit back and enjoy this footy double header! We start off up north! North Queensland after their battling effort against Penrith, host a resurgent (maybe?) Manly side after they ambushed the Eels last Saturday. Both sides need the points and in quite calm conditions we should see some exciting football! So grab a drink, food and kick up your feet! Kick-off is 6:00PM AEST.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Henry Perenara
Touch Judges: Jon Stone, Gavin Badger
Video Referee: Jared Maxwell, Bryan Norrie
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (12)
Tries: Kyle Feldt, Francis Molo
Field Goals:
Conversions: Kyle Feldt (2/2)
Penalty Goals:
MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (24)
Tries: Curtis Sironen, Danny Levi, Daly Cherry-Evans, Cade Cust
Field Goals: Daly Cherry-Evans (0/1)
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (4/4)
Penalty Goals: