Roosters v Cowboys: Five things we learned

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED: Cowboys coach Paul Green has an agonising decision to make, eerie JT similarity, Michael Morgan’s evolution and more.

Cowboys forward Ethan Lowe takes on the Roosters defence.

NORTH Queensland are 80 minutes away from a historic NRL premiership after advancing to the grand final.

Here’s what we learned from their 29-16 preliminary final upset of the Sydney Roosters.

1. The Cowboys are undoubtedly the premier NRL club in Queensland. To qualify for two grand finals in three years is a remarkable achievement, let alone considering the injuries North Queensland has battled this season. They have overtaken the Broncos as the pride of the Sunshine State.

2. Cowboys coach Paul Green has an agonising decision to make over Matt Scott. Scott is available for the grand final but hasn’t played since suffering a knee injury in round 2. Green must decide whether he should risk Scott and if he does, who misses out? Rookie prop Corey Jensen seems most likely to make way.

3. The Cowboys signed Te Maire Martin from Penrith to be Johnathan Thurston’s long-term successor in the halves and there was an eerie similarity between the two on Saturday night. Martin’s show-n-go to slip past the Roosters and score the opening try had Thurston written all over it.

Te Maire Martin races away to score a try for the Cowboys. Picture: Brett Costello

4. Michael Morgan’s evolution into a genuine elite NRL playmaker is well and truly complete. Every facet of Morgan’s game has improved in the absence of Thurston this season, especially his kicking which has been superb for the Cowboys in the back end of the year. He set up two tries and kicked a calm field goal to win the game.

5. The Western Bulldogs won the AFL premiership after finishing the regular season in seventh position and the Cowboys are now one win away from winning it from eighth. No team has won an NRL title from outside the top four but North Queensland could rewrite the record books.