Cowboys edge the Roosters with second half comeback

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Sydney Roosters v North Queensland Cowboys

The North Queensland Cowboys have overturned a 10 point half time deficit to take an 18-16 win over the Sydney Roosters in front of 13,000 fans at Allianz Stadium.

The Roosters preparations were thrown a curveball early Sunday morning when James Tedesco was called back into the NSW origin squad as Roosters fans thought they could get through the Origin series having their custodian.

Normally fast starters, The Roosters had to wait until the 20th minute for their first points which came off the boot of Sam Walker with a penalty goal. The tricolours were able to then add their first try a few minutes later when off the back of a penalty Terrell May was able to crash over and twist his way to get the ball down.

The Cowboys hit the scoreboard just after the half hour mark when Dom Young was caught infield and stuck in defensive limbo as Braidon Burns was unmarked on the outside of him to score in the corner.

A piece of luck for the home side helped them to a second try as a pass that looked to be a long way forward was actually touched by the Cowboys who stopped and Dom Young was able to get upfield before slipping over. The quick play the ball caused issues for the North Queenslanders and Sam Walker's quick thinking to play left but go straight back to the unmarked Dom Young on the right to score easily. The conversion from out wide was successful and the Roosters lead 14-4 at the break.

An early penalty goal was added by Sam Walker to start the second half as the Roosters extended their lead to 12. The Cowboys then went up against it as Heilum Luki was given 10 minutes in the sin bin for a dangerous lifting tackle.

If the extra man was meant to be a hindrance for the Cowboys, it turned into a rocket that they needed as they were able to cross through Scott Drinkwater who had too much speed for the sliding Roosters defence and got across to score a converted try. An extra two points was added a few minutes later when the Cowboys wound down the sin bin time to close the gap to 16-12.

The Cowboys momentum continued as Kulikefu Finefeuiaki was able to cross with ten minutes to play with the Roosters losing the plot and struggling to control the ball. The missed conversion didn't hurt the visitors too much as they were able to hit the lead a few minutes later when Scott Drinkwater added a penalty goal after the Roosters were caught offside.

The Roosters tried everything in the dying minutes but couldn't crack the Cowboys line and fell to an 18-16 defeat.

Next week, the Roosters have the benefit of having the bye whilst the Cowboys get a boost by returning to Townsville for a clash with the Warriors.