FULL TIME in Townsville and the Cowboys are celebrating as they take a strong 26-6 victory over a poor Raiders
Adrian Trevilyan ruled to have knocked on after he stripped it 1 on 1 - Raiders challenge but it's one replay to keep Grant Atkins decision
Val Holmes has his easiest and converts from right in front
Jeremiah Nanai flies high and gets the ball then gets down low and scores and manages to get the ball down
Valentine Holmes converts from out wide
Ummm ok then that's a different one - Cowboys get the last tackle play wrong but lose ball is toed through by Peta Hiku who gets a perfect bounce and kicks it through and Feldt unchallenged into the ball
Across two matches in Townsville to start the season there have been 45 errors Vs just 30 points scored
Air swings everywhere but it's Semi Valemei who gets the touch on the ball first and knocks it back - vital intervention for the Raiders
PENALTY COWBOYS: A simple hand on ball penalty as Tapine tried to slow it down, Cowboys attacking again
NO TRY - Heilum Luki is well offside on the kick but with the deflection it's an opportunity that he couldn't resist
Hudson Young grabs hold of the chasing Jeremiah Nanai and it's a professional foul inside the 10 and Young is instantly given his marching orders by Grant Atkins
Sebastian Kris makes a meal of the ball in the air and loses it over his shoulder forward
Val Holmes converts from close range
STOP HAMMER TIME - The Cowboys on the board again after Chad Townsend (who I was a bit harsh on before) puts up a great kick that Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow leaps takes and then has the strength to get to the line
THE HAMMER
PENALTY RAIDERS: Grant Atkins called held but the Cowboys didn't hear it and despite it being 1 on 1 blows the penalty
Just like his thoughts on being a competent NRL player... Chad Townsend was WRONG and knocked on after failing to grab the ricochet
Chad Townsend is adamant that he didn't knock the ball on but then he's also adamant he's a competent NRL player so we don't live with high hopes he didn't knock on
Rugby League in Townsville has been atrocious with all due respect these past two weeks - More errors than points
Jeez... the Cowboys are bringing the errors back to town tonight
Jeez... the Cowboys are bringing the errors back to town tonight
Not sure what has been a bigger disaster - The Raiders last tackle play there or the South Australian Election; Both going very poorly for one side
BRAVE KYLE - Kyle Feldt watches the ball despite the Raiders chasers coming through and luckily for Feldt it goes dead without a touch
PENALTY RAIDERS: Jason Taumalolo penalised for being a kick blocker and then changing his line to impact Elliott Whitehead
SECOND HALF IS GO! The home side leading 8-6
HALF TIME at QCB Stadium and the Cowboys leading 8-6 at the break
He got lucky first time round but this time Murray Taulagi goes into touch before getting the ball down
PENALTY COWBOYS: Swinging arm from Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad hits Val Homes high and goes on report as well
Adam Elliott loses the ball as he is rattled in the tackle
Corey Harawira-Naera converts from close range
Corey Harawira-Naera looks held, the Cowboys thought he was and there was very little urgency in the defence and in the end he's not held and CHN gets over
If you're not aware, A "sleeper" is a player who is out of play and in front of the play the ball not necessarily active in the play but can still effect the play by being an obstruction as Adam Elliott was in that case
Valentine Holmes converts the penalty goal from closer range than his first
PENALTY COWBOYS: Adam Elliott penalised whilst the Raiders are in possession after being a "sleeper" which is a term referees use a lot in their communication but we don't hear too often
"FORRWARRRD" the voice of Nick Pelgrave booming through the mics as he tips Grant Atkins into a forward pass against the Raiders
Tom Starling held up over the line on tackle 3
PENALTY RAIDERS - Tom Gilbert penalised for pressure on the neck of Semi Valemei and goes ON REPORT
Val Holmes slots the penalty goal from about 30m out just off centre
Matt Frawley throws a last tackle intercept and instead of attacking the line, Canberra have to defend on halfway
Jack Wighton hits the ball perfectly and the ball goes out for a 40/20 after the efforts of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow made it in touch
Jeremiah Nanai taps the ball back but nobody from the Cowboys is there to clean it up
PENALTY RAIDERS: Not sure what it is for exactly but the Raiders get the penalty inside their own 30
Val Holmes loses the pass as the Cowboys shift left
PENALTY COWBOYS: Slow off the ruck is ruled by Grant Atkins
Valentine Holmes conversion goes across the face of the uprights
The bunker wanted a further look after Murray Taulagi scored in the corner whether his foot was in or out; Unusually, the bunker's further review actually stayed with the original decision
Meanwhile 3,345km away in Auckland; For those playing at home, Australia remain undefeated in the Women's Cricket World Cup with the Aussies breaking a World record chasing 278
It's not going to be one of these games is it? Both sides losing the ball repeatedly
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad makes a meal of the catch as he jumps for a kick under no pressure and puts it down
Good first set from the Raiders and the Cowboys are working it slowly out of their own 20
Grant Atkins calls time on in Townsville as the Raiders use the ball first in the Toyota Cup (Cowboys sponsored by Toyota & Raiders by Toyota Forklifts)
Raiders out on the field at QCB Stadium and now here come the Cowboys
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judges: Nick Pelgrave, Dave Munro
Video Referee: Steve Chiddy
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (26)
Tries: Murray Taulagi, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Kyle Feldt, Jeremiah Nanai
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Valentine Holmes (2/2)
CANBERRA RAIDERS (6)
Tries: Corey Harawira-Naera
Conversions: Corey Harawira-Naera (1/1)