An absolute thriller in Townsville has left everybody on the edge of their seats as the North Queensland Cowboys have taken a much needed 18-16 victory over the Newcastle Knights at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Neither side could say that they were at their best during the opening forty minutes with both sides struggling with some basic errors killing any momentum they were looking to create. The Cowboys saw off an early threat from the Knights after a Lachie Miller error blew a strong chance for Newcastle.
The Cowboys took advantage when they started to gain some momentum which saw Scott Drinkwater to the line and then slide through the space before linking back up with Reece Robson to score under the sticks. The easy conversion from Val Holmes gave the North Queenslanders a 6-0 lead.
One of the biggest sins in Rugby League is not completing a set after points and for the Cowboys this came back to bite them when Tom Dearden's failure to catch the kick-off put the Knights in good field position which they took advantage of. The Knights took advantage of the field position when Greg Marzhew was able to get over after the Newcastle attack drew in the Cowboys defence.
Newcastle were denied a try just after the twenty mark when Dom Young lost the ball short of the line trying to regather a kick. Just a matter of minutes later, the Cowboys took advantage of the ensuing field position when Kyle Feldt got over in the corner with a big dive. The conversion from Valentine Holmes from the sideline gave the Cowboys a 12-6 lead.
Despite having most of the possession and field position, the Cowboys could only manage a six-point lead at the break despite Valentine Holmes missing a penalty goal attempt on the stroke of half-time.
An absolute brain explosion from Murray Taulagi put the Cowboys into a precarious position after he was given ten minutes in the sin bin for a late shoulder charge on Kalyn Ponga. The Knights took full advantage of the overlap as Dom Young was able to cross in the corner after Ponga drew in the defence.
Trailing by two and doing not much else in the sin bin period, the Knights looked to struggle to take advantage but they did when some luck went their way getting six again before Jackson Hastings drew in defence before turning the ball back inside to Lachlan Fitzgibbon who went through almost untouched. A successful conversion from Lachie Miller was good and put the Knights out to a four-point lead.
Luck continued to be on the Knights side but they couldn't take advantage of their strong field position and it was the Cowboys who went up the other end when Valentine Holmes went through some poor defence before linking up with Tom Dearden to score. The conversion from close range put the Cowboys in the lead again.
Both sides continued to give their opponents chances with poor kicks and errors handing the opposition both possession and field position but neither side could take advantage. The Knights had the momentum up to full time but poor decision making hurt them and the Cowboys held on for an 18-16 win.
Next weekend, the Cowboys head to Sydney and the Shire in particular for a Thursday night battle against the Cronulla Sharks, whilst the Knights are also in Sydney when they head to Parramatta to take on the Eels in the 6pm Friday game.