Cowboys hit new low following 24-12 loss to Bulldogs in Sydney

The Cowboys are under pressure to fix their last-tackle options after going down 24-12 to last-placed Canterbury in Sydney on Friday night.

The Cowboys suffered a disappointing loss to the Bulldogs. (AAP Image/Brendon Thorne)

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The Cowboys are under pressure to fix their last-tackle options after going down to last-placed Canterbury in Sydney on Friday night.

The Bulldogs were able to capitalise on an error-riddled North Queensland side as they found their second win of their season in a scrappy 24-12 win at ANZ Stadium in front of 6711 fans.

The Cowboys suffered a disappointing loss to the Bulldogs. (AAP Image/Brendon Thorne)

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North Queensland began the match strong and showed positive signs of being able to find their third win of the season.

However, poor kicks and costly errors on their last-set plays allowed the bottom-of-the-table Bulldogs to run riot in the second half.

It was the Cowboys first game back at ANZ Stadium since their 34-6 loss to the Melbourne Storm in the 2017 Grand Final and it was a similar feeling after fulltime having lost a game which they were hopeful of winning.

Justin O'Neill scored an early try for the visitors. (AAP Image/Brendon Thorne)

The Cowboys were near-perfect in the opening half, completing close to 100 per cent of their sets and building momentum down the middle of the field.

By halftime, North Queensland had a 90 per cent completion rate and just the two errors.

But the tide dramatically swung in the second stanza as the Bulldogs were able to capitalise on the Cowboys’ costly errors and an inability to execute a last play option.

Coach Paul Green said at halftime he had been disappointed with their fifth-tackle sets and they simply weren’t able to improve enough to get the win.

O'Neill and Jayden Okunbor compete for a bomb. (AAP Image/Brendon Thorne)

The only shining light to come out of the game was the fact the Cowboys middle forwards put on a strong case for an Origin call up this year.

Queensland selectors will be hard placed to omit hard men Matt Scott (157m) and Josh McGuire (170m) in this year’s series as both built valuable momentum down the middle.

New South Wales Origin hopeful Jordan McLean also notched up 170 running metres while Queenslander Gavin Cooper also ran for 116m.

The Cowboys had a lucky escape early on after a pass from Kerrod Holland was ruled forward after putting winger Jayden Okunbor over to score.

It seemed to rev North Queensland into gear as they forced back-to-back sets on the Bulldogs line.

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Morgan helped get the Cowboys on the board first through a clever kick to right-side winger Justin O’Neill to score first points in the 13th minute.

Okunbor made up for his previous errors to even the scores 6-all heading into the break.

Bulldog second rower Corey Harawira-Naera hit back in the 50th minute to extend their lead 12-6.

Fellow backrower Josh Jackson and a second try to Harawira-Naera took the score seemingly beyond reach for the Cowboys as they took the lead 24-6.

A try in the 68th minute to Cowboys winger Ben Hampton gave North Queensland some last minute hope of a comeback but it was too little, too late, going down for their fifth loss this season.

CANTERBURY 24 (C Harawira-Naera 2 J Jackson J Okunbor tries R Martin 4 goals) bt NORTH QUEENSLAND 12 (B Hampton J O’Neill tries J Kahu 2 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Chris Sutton, Phil Henderson. Crowd: 6,711