The North Queensland Cowboys defeated Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval in a match that saw a total of 78 points scored. The last 720 minutes of game-time between these sides (9 games) has now produced a total of 567 points.
The Tigers opened the scoring after just 3 minutes when Lachlan Galvin held up a lovely short ball for Samuela Fainu, who stepped out of a tackle and scored on the right edge. Apisai Koroisau failed to convert from out wide.
The Cowboys finally responded in the 19th minute when Reece Robson linked with Tom Dearden, who strolled through some feeble goal-line defence to score. Valentine Holmes converted.
In the 23rd minute, the Cowboys crossed again when Scott Drinkwater produce a perfect gentle grubber that popped up for Murray Taulagi, who scored in the left corner. Holmes converted.
Seven minutes later, Holmes produced a lovely draw and pass to put Taulagi over for the easiest of tries. Holmes slotted the extras from out wide.
Just shy of halftime, the Tigers narrowed the deficit when Jahream Bula held a pass up as he drifted out on the left edge and then just sliced through to score. Koroisau converted from out wide. At halftime the Cowboys were leading 18-10.
Just as they did in the first half, they Tigers scored 3 minutes into the half, this time it came after Charlie Staines took an intercept to save a try. Two tackles later, Reuben Porter got a stunning offload away to Bula, who exploded through the line and raced 70 metres to score. Koroisau failed to convert.
The Cowboys took the lead out to 6 in the 50th minute when Holmes kicked a penalty goal.
A minute later Justin O)lam was sent off for a high tackle on Heilum Luki. The next 29 minutes saw 44 points scored.
A minute after Olam's dismissal, the Cowboys were on the Tigers line. Holmes ran from dummy half on the left edge and then passes back out to Taulagi, who had just played the ball, and the winger crossed for his third try. Holmes converted.
At the end of the next set, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki flicked an offload inside to Drinkwater who strolled over to score under the sticks. Holmes converted again.
The Cowboys scored again just 2 minutes later when Holmes sliced through the left edge and scored an easy try, which he also converted. In 7 minutes, the Cowboys had turned their narrow 4 point lead into 24.
The Tigers wouldn't quit though, despite being down to 12 men. In the 59th minute Porter made a great bust up the middle and then produced another brilliant offload that lead to some brilliant passing, eventually resulting in a try in the corner to Solomon Alaimalo. Koroisau converted from the sideline.
In the 63rd minute, the Tigers crossed again when Solomona Faataape brushed off Holmes to score. Koroisau slipped as he struck his sideline conversion attempt and very nearly landed the goal.
The Tigers went agonisingly close just 2 minutes later after a great break by Bula. The following play saw Isiah Papali'i drop the ball an inch from the Cowboys line.
The Cowboys had a try denied in the 70th minute when Griffin Neame was found to have performed a double movement. From the penalty, the Tigers failed to find touch and the Cowboys went on the attack, leading to Drinkwater snaring his second try of the game. Holmes failed to convert.
In the 72nd minute, Robson got over the Tigers line but he was held up before losing the ball.
In the 75th minute, Samuela Fainu scored a brilliant solo try when he charged forward and leapt high to take a short Cowboys drop out, busted through the limited defensive efforts and stormed over to score. Koroisau converted.
The Cowboys crossed one last time in the final minute when a stray pass from Galvin bounced into the waiting arms of Kyle Feldt, who then raced 55 metres to score. Holmes converted from the sideline to seal the Cowboys 48-30 victory.