Game over here at Hunter Stadium as the Cowboys survive the late Knights fightback!
North Queensland Cowboys 26-24
UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Tyrone Roberts makes an unforced error.
Drops the ball cold and the Cowboys win this one!
North Queensland Cowboys 26-24
PENALTY Knights - A bit of push and shove there as well, but nothing too serious. Houston and Winterstein involved. Here we go!
North Queensland Cowboys 26-24
The Knights make barely any metres and go backwards, before Uate makes a run down the right and the Knights get six more! Time off with 5 seconds to go and the Knights will have one tackle!
North Queensland Cowboys 26-24
Last set now for the Knights. Just 1 minute to go!
North Queensland Cowboys 26-24
UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Kurt Gidley makes an unforced error.
Gidley drops it on the 2nd tackle! That could be the ball game there.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-24
HANDOVER - The Knights get the ball back. Three minutes to go. 75 metres to go.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-24
..and now Leilua loses it inside his own 30 metres! Tamou with a good tackle, knocks it out.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-24
Joseph Leilua has an injury here, but will stay on the field.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-24
ERROR Cowboys - Morgan pushes the pass and drops it. Let-off there for the Knights
North Queensland Cowboys 26-24
UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Sione Mata'utia makes an unforced error.
After a good set from the Cowboys, Mata'utia fumbles the ball! The Cowboys get a chance to put it away now!
North Queensland Cowboys 26-24
Morgan with a bustling run down the right. The Cowboys on the attack!
North Queensland Cowboys 26-24
The Knights take the touch finder on the 4th. Not sure what Roberts was doing there...
North Queensland Cowboys 26-24
Sione had no right to score there, but he pushed off Thurston like he was nothing!
North Queensland Cowboys 26-24
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Two point ball game here!
North Queensland Cowboys 26-24
TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Sione Mata'utia. Kick to come.
WOWOWOW! What a try to the Knights! Tyrone Roberts breaks through the line and gives it to Sione Mata'utia who pushes players off and scores under the posts! What a finish we have here!!
North Queensland Cowboys 26-22
10 minutes to go here and the Knights need 2 lots of points. Can they do it?
North Queensland Cowboys 26-18
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Easy conversion for Roberts. Are we in for a close finish?
North Queensland Cowboys 26-18
TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Joseph Leilua. Kick to come.
Leilua reaches out and scores! Excellent stuff there after some wonderful lead up work from Tariq Sims and Kade Snowden.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-16
Great run from Tariq Sims as the Knights attack again...
North Queensland Cowboys 26-12
Official crowd: 15,518 here at Hunter Stadium
North Queensland Cowboys 26-12
Another dodgy last tackle from the Knights. Tariq Sims ends up kicking and it goes nowhere. This game could be beyond them.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-12
Thurston bombs. Caught in goal, the Knights get a chance to run it back, but the clock is running...
North Queensland Cowboys 26-12
Cowboys get it back after a sloppy last tackle there from Newcastle.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-12
The Knights are starting to throw it around a bit now. They need to score soon to be any chance here.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-12
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Slots it through from just to the left of the posts and the Cowboys are out by more than two converted tries.
North Queensland Cowboys 26-12
TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Michael Morgan. Kick to come.
Many repeat sets here have seen the Cowboys make the most of it. Morgan does it all himself for a gritty try. So many missed tackles from the Knights!
North Queensland Cowboys 24-12
Knights soaking up the pressure right now.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-12
Ball knocked down by Leilua and the Cowboys will get another set on the Knights line.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-12
PENALTY Cowboys - Another one. Gidley gets reprimanded by the ref as the Knights infringe in the ruck.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-12
Uate is now the highest try scorer at Hunter Stadium. Nice one!
North Queensland Cowboys 20-12
PENALTY Cowboys - A huge relieving penalty here. Offside from the Knights.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-12
Thurston juggles a bomb and the Cowboys are under real pressure in their own 20 now.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-12
Cowboys lose it on the attack and the Knights run it out of their territory. Definite momentum shift here.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-12
Hannant gets smashed! Great defence from the Knights here as Tariq Sims dumps him on his back and he loses it!
North Queensland Cowboys 20-12
UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Kurt Gidley makes an unforced error.
Gidley drops it from the kick-off. Ouch.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-12
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
From in front. No problem.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-12
That's the sort of stuff the Blues fans will be hoping to see in Origin if he gets in this year.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-10
TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Akuila Uate. Kick to come.
AKU! Great try! He cuts through the Cowboys defence and runs 58 metres to score! The Knights are back in it!
North Queensland Cowboys 20-10
Korbin Sims. ALMOST! A fantastic tackle from Lachlan Coote cuts him down just 1 metre from the line!
North Queensland Cowboys 20-6
Coote down in backplay. Trainer looking at his knee. Cowboys fans hold their breath.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-6
Leilua might have butchered a try here. He's over the line, held up, but McManus was on his left. 4th tackle.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-6
PENALTY Knights - Nice run from Gidley and a Cowboy lying in the ruck.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-6
PENALTY Knights - The Knights are looking better now. A strip from the Cowboys gives them a great chance 25 metres out.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-6
Thurston being his usual nippy self here with some great run, but this time the Cowboys lose it.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-6
Nice run from Gavin Cooper, but he can't find the support...
North Queensland Cowboys 20-6
Jarrod Mullen will NOT be returning today. Two heavy head knocks at the end of the first half will see him rest for the remainder of the game.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-6
UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
Hooks it too much from the right wing. He doesn't like that side...
North Queensland Cowboys 20-6
TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Justin O'Neill. Kick to come.
O'Neill scores his second down the right wing after a fantastic set-up from replacement hooker, Ray Thompson
North Queensland Cowboys 20-6
Big break from Ray Thompson! He makes 30 metres and then the ball goes to the right and....
North Queensland Cowboys 16-6
The second half is under-way here in Newcastle!
North Queensland Cowboys 16-6
Some stats from the first half:
Possession: Cowboys 55% - 45%
Completions: Knights 78% - 74%
Line Breaks: Cowboys 3 - 1
Tackles: Knights 180 - 158
Missed Tackles: Knights 14 - 7
Penalties: Knights 3 - 1
Errors: 5 - 5
North Queensland Cowboys 16-6
..and that's the half! Pretty entertaining game here!
North Queensland Cowboys 16-6
Last set of the half for the Cowboys ends with a great take from Uate. Halftime!
North Queensland Cowboys 16-6
Good hands down the left but McManus has been pushed out of touch.
North Queensland Cowboys 16-6
Knights sneak the ball back here. 30 metres out!
North Queensland Cowboys 16-6
Coote takes a great catch at the back and there's just a couple of sets left here in this half.
North Queensland Cowboys 16-6
For the Knights, Tyler Randell is playing at half and Sione Mata'utia in the back row!
North Queensland Cowboys 16-6
UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
From 15 metres in from the right touch-line, Thurston hits it right.
North Queensland Cowboys 16-6
Mullen is coming off now. He looks woozy and may be having a concussion test as well.
North Queensland Cowboys 16-6
TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Justin O'Neill. Kick to come.
With Mullen down injured the Cowboys push to the right and O'Neill strolls in to the corner. Injuries a-plenty here!
North Queensland Cowboys 16-6
Mullen is in real trouble here...
North Queensland Cowboys 12-6
61 metre drop-out from Coote!
North Queensland Cowboys 12-6
Mullen was down in back play there for a bit, but he's back up now..
North Queensland Cowboys 12-6
Cowboys with a big chance, but lost just on the line at the other end! Great ball movement to the left, but Uate intercepts and knocks it out to save the try!
North Queensland Cowboys 12-6
Leilua dives at the line, but Coote holds the arm with the ball and he loses it!
North Queensland Cowboys 12-6
PENALTY Knights - Thurston holds down a little too long. Quick tap! 2 metres out!
North Queensland Cowboys 12-6
UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Lachlan Coote makes an unforced error.
Coote has lost it cold this time. Bobbles a pass and the Knights on the attack 40 metres out.
North Queensland Cowboys 12-6
Thurston with a neat run and chance down the left, but he loses it as he is hit by Mullen. SCRUM Knights - 10 metres out.
North Queensland Cowboys 12-6
UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Dane Gagai makes an unforced error.
Mullen with an offload and Gagai puts it down cold. We're at the Cowboys 40 metre line.
North Queensland Cowboys 12-6
Knights with a settler. Kicked into touch at the Cowboys 10 metre line by Roberts.
North Queensland Cowboys 12-6
Granville won't be back today. Another big blow to the Cowboys. He has failed the concussion test. They are down to 15 men.
North Queensland Cowboys 12-6
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Lands the conversion from 15 metres to the left side of the posts
North Queensland Cowboys 12-6
TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Lachlan Coote. Kick to come.
He takes the pass from Thurston and ducks inside Mullen and Gidley to score. Great try!
North Queensland Cowboys 10-6
VIDEO REFEREE Cowboys - Coote tries to do it himself with a darting little run to the line. We're checking for obstruction!
6 all
Good running down the left from the Cowboys. Inside the Knights 40 and just the 2nd tackle.
6 all
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Easy conversion. We're all tied up!
6 all
TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Scott Bolton. Kick to come.
A mixed up play! Thurston kicks. Gidley picks up, loses the ball to JT in the tackle. Morgan to Bolton and he's in next to the posts!
Newcastle Knights 6-4
A one on one steal from Thurston!
Newcastle Knights 6-0
Big kick at the end of the next set from the Knights, and it rolls dead.
Newcastle Knights 6-0
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Nails it from just to the right of the posts
Newcastle Knights 6-0
TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Chris Houston. Kick to come.
Houston powers through the line and scores easily! Mullen with a flat pass, but Houston is over. We have the first points here!
Newcastle Knights 4-0
Taumololo has a medial ligament strain. He won't be back today. Ouch.
0 all
Looks to be held up here. With the initial decision, I don't think this will be overturned.
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VIDEO REFEREE - A strong run from Korbin Sims to get over the line, but I don't think he has it down. The Ref has called NO TRY.
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Knights lose it, but looks like it's come off the Cowboys. Knights have the feed, 10 metres out.
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PENALTY Knights - Cowboys with the ruck penalty this time
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Thurston throws a forward pass and the Knights are off the hook!
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PENALTY Cowboys - Knights with a little too much attention in the tackle. Cowboys to tap from the Knights 30 metre line.
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Cowboys lose it through Linnett and the Knights back on the attack at halfway
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So, the Cowboys having to deal with two of their players off the field now. They're on the attack. 40 metres out.
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Nasty hit for Granville here. He is leaving the field for a concussion test.
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Kick-off here at Newcastle...and on the first set of six, we have Jason Taumololo limping off the field! Drama for the Cowboys!
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The Newcastle Knights have taken Joey Tapine off their extended bench, with Sione Mata'utia to play off the bench in his place.
For the Cowboys, also just the one change, with Rory Kostjasyn out, and Ray Thompson in to replace him.
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Referees & scorers:
Referee: Ashley Klein, Chris Sutton
Touch Judges: Clayton Sharpe, Kasey Badger
Video Referee: Steve Chiddy, Daniel Irvine
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (24)
Tries: Chris Houston, Akuila Uate, Joseph Leilua, Sione Mata'utia
Field Goals:
Conversions: Tyrone Roberts (4/4)
Penalty Goals:
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (26)
Tries: Scott Bolton, Lachlan Coote, Justin O'Neill (2), Michael Morgan
Field Goals:
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (3/5)
Penalty Goals: