Warriors score rare win in Townsville

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North Queensland Cowboys v Warriors

A solid first half has seen the Warriors do enough to pick up a rare win in Townsville after downing the Cowboys 23-16 in Round 15 of the NRL.

The Warriors came into this match having scored just 1 win in their last 12 visits to 1300Smiles Stadium and started in the perfect manner to change that trend.

The Cowboys opened the scoring through an 11th minute penalty goal by Johnathan Thurston, but just 5 minutes later the Cowboys gave away three quick penalties.

This lead to the Warriors running it on the last. They shifted left, where Tuivasa-Sheck produced a nice draw and pass to find Maumalo, who scored a good try in the corner. Johnson converted from touch.

Just 90 seconds later and the Warriors were in again, this time thanks to a magnificent solo effort by Tuivasa-Sheck, who scooped up the ball from dummy half from deep inside his own half, burst through the middle and then produced a stunning stutter-step to get by Morgan effortlessly to run away and score under the sticks. Johnson again converted.

Five minutes later and Tuivasa-Sheck was again involved in another Warriors try, this time he ran to the line before dishing it off to Kata who came back inside, stumbled after a tackled attempt and then scrambled across the line for a good try. Johnson nailed another sideline conversion.

With just 3 minutes left in the half, the Cowboys finally got across the stripe when Thurston linked with Feldt, who then threw a nice ball to put Bowen over in the left corner. Thurston slotted the sideline conversion.

The Cowboys fightback continued after the halftime break, when Kyle Feldt took the ball from dummy half and went to the short side and scored a try in the right corner just three minutes in. Thurston was unable to convert.

Shortly after, Johnson kicked a penalty goal before the Cowboys struck again just after the hour mark had passed. Green passed to Tuivasa-Sheck, but it bounced forward off him and right into Martin's hands, who then run 60 metres before throwing a high, long, looping ball out to Feldt who scored in the corner. Thurston again failed to convert.

Warriors kicked another penalty goal a few minutes later but the final ten minutes saw the Cowboys dominate field position and possession, however they failed to add any more points.

Shaun Johnson capped a good night with a field goal to put the match beyond doubt with just over a minute left.

After rep round, the Warriors are at home to the Sharks, while the Cowboys head further north to visit the Rabbitohs in Cairns.