Cowboys’ brutal 42-point blitz blows Dragons away

North Queensland has stormed to the top of the NRL ladder, taking advantage of a Dragons error in stunning fashion.

Chad Townsend of the Cowboys celebrates scoring a try during the round three NRL hammering of St George Illawarra. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

The North Queensland Cowboys remain unbeaten to start the 2024 season and moved to the top of the NRL ladder, thrashing the Dragons 46-24 in Kogarah thanks to a remarkable 42-point blitz.

The Cowboys trailed 18-4 after 20 minutes, with the Dragons hitting the front thanks to three tries in 10 minutes.

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The Dragons were rolling when Kyle Flanagan crossed next to the posts in the 19th minute and when the conversion was added, the home side forged a handy lead in front of an excited crowd at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.

A major turning point in the game came in the 23rd minute, when Dragons forward Ray Faitala-Mariner bombed a certain try.

The Dragons actually started the match well. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

He looked a sure thing of scoring after chasing down a grubber, but dropped the ball cold over the line. It would have given the home side a 24-4 lead.

It turned out to be a crucial error.

The Cowboys would march down the field and score in the next set, the first of seven straight tries.

Reece Robson provided excellent service out of dummy-half, setting up three tries close to the line to forwards Griffin Neame, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Sam McIntyre.

Fullback Scott Drinkwater was everywhere in attack as was star centre Valentine Holmes, with the two proving a handful for the Dragons defence, with the pair both adding four pointers.

Holmes was arguably the best on ground, running for 226 metres and collecting a personal haul of 18 points.

Before the Cowboys cranked into gear and piled on the points. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

While there were plenty of promising signs in the first half, it’s back to the drawing board for Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, who’s side has now conceded 84 points in the last two games.

When Blake Lawrie ran a kick-off back hard, his head connected with Kulikefu Finefeuiaki’s head and saw the Cowboys man driven back and taken from the field with blood streaming from a facial cut. Finefeuiaki would pass a category two HIA.

Finefeuiaki returned to score a try, make bustling runs and effect 23 tackles in 59 minutes that will have other clubs interested given the 20-year-old is off-contract after this season.

If the Dragons had a positive it was the form of former Cowboys backrower Luciano Leilua, who was dangerous on the left edge and played the ball quickly.

The Dragons have never conceded 50 points at the ground once known as Kogarah-Jubilee.

– NCA Newswire’s Matt Cleary

Originally published as Cowboys’ brutal 42-point blitz blows Dragons away