Cowboys survive comeback to win 32-28 after Tigers cop double sin bin
Despite being down a man for 20 minutes after back-to-back sin bins, the Tigers almost produced a miracle comeback, but the Cowboys managed to hold on despite collapsing defensively.
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Cowboys skipper Tom Dearden has given Queensland coach Billy Slater plenty to think about after leading North Queensland to a nailbiting 32-28 victory over Wests Tigers.
The Cowboys had to hold out a fast-finishing Tigers side which scored 22 unanswered points after coming to life in the 65th minute, but they left their charge too late and fell just short.
Just days after he was one of the Maroons’ brightest sparks in a disappointing defeat, Dearden pulled the strings with a try and two try assists, while his co-captain Reuben Cotter was also excellent in his first NRL game in four weeks.
While many see the 24-year-old as the future of the state, Queensland can ill afford to wait and see how game two unfolds before making a change.
Dearden was outstanding in the win, linking well with his spine partners Jaxon Purdue, Scott Drinkwater and Reece Robson – who collectively amassed three tries, five try assists and six linebreak assists.
“I thought we played with control,” Cowboys coach Todd Payten said.
“They had a couple of men sent to the sin bin and we didn’t overcook it in those periods. I thought we were quite direct, carrying the ball pretty strong and poking our nose through rather than trying to shift around.
“I felt like there was a period where we were just waiting for the game to finish, and we had to find another gear – and we found it. Just.”
Discipline cost the Tigers and North Queensland’s first 22 points all came while a man up.
Tigers halfback Jarome Luai was sensationally sin-binned early in the game and the Cowboys capitalised on their numerical advantage with 14 points.
Luai was sent to the sidelines after the Tigers gave away three consecutive infringements defending the same set, opening the door for North Queensland to start the stampede.
Another sin bin just before halftime – this time to Adam Doueihi – allowed Drinkwater to score in the dying stages of the half and the contest was basically over when Jeremiah Nanai flew high to claim a Drinkwater bomb for his side’s fourth try.
Wests came roaring back with three converted tries in five minutes late in the game before Jahream Bula got the visitors within four points of North Queensland.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall said he was proud of the way his team fought back.
“We’ve just got to address some of the things that got us into that position, like, there are some things in our control that we can be better at, but there’s also things out of our control,” Marshall said.
“Like the two sin bins, I thought were pretty harsh.
“The Nanai try going up as no try and come back down and he overruled, the referee, when I thought he (Zac Laybutt) sort of took our player out.
“So there’s a couple of things that we can’t control, but there’s definitely things we can improve on to not be in that position.”
MASON UNJARRED
With Lachlan Galvin now a Bulldog, Bowral-born Wests Magpies junior Heath Mason paired Jarome Luai in the halves and didn’t look a step out of place playing pivot.
It was Mason’s first NRL start in the halves and he was quiet but composed, throwing a memorable late offload to Tony Sukkar to create a linebreak in the first half before scoring a late try to get the Tigers back in the contest.
The stocky 19-year-old started at fullback in round 1 against the Knights for his only previous appearance this season but he is a natural half, bringing good instincts, footwork and athleticism to the side.
Marshall said he was happy with how his young five-eighth stepped up to the challenge.
“I thought he was great tonight. To be thrusted into five-eighth, he’s played in NSW Cup at fullback,” Marshall said.
“So to get an opportunity in the halves, it’s a big task to come into the front line defending and I thought he was great in defence.
“And then he brought us a lot of spark and energy with the ball so I’m really proud of how he went.”
BENJI’S BOGEY
Benji Marshall has now faced his former teammate Todd Payten three times without a win.
The pair have fond memories of winning the 2005 premiership together, and while Marshall may have had more highlights as a player, it’s the ex-middle forward who has his opposite’s number when it comes to coaching.
WELCOME BACK, COTTER
It had been four weeks since Cowboys fans had seen their talismanic co-captain Cotter trucking the ball up the field and he was instrumental to North Queensland’s success.
Cotter set up his team’s first try with a huge linebreak down the middle of the park before Tom Dearden toyed with the Tigers defence and threw an offload to put John Bateman across.
The Cowboys have missed Cotter’s strong leg drive and quick metres and he had one of his best games of the season in limited minutes.
Originally published as Cowboys survive comeback to win 32-28 after Tigers cop double sin bin
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