Cowboys’ NRL premiership fairytale over as Storm dominate grand final

NORTH Queensland wrote the last chapter of their 2017 season in the grand final and while there was no happily ever after, it will still go down in rugby league folklore.

Jason Taumalolo has fulfilled his potential this season. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

THE Cowboys’ stunning fairy tale ride has to come to an end.

North Queensland wrote the last chapter of their 2017 season and while there was no happily ever after for Paul Green’s brave men, it will still be a story to go down in rugby league folklore.

For the gallant North Queensland, there was no knight in shining armour to save them at ANZ Stadium, no last trick to pull out of the bag as they fell 34-6 to the Melbourne Storm.

The ultimate underdogs were finally stopped in their tracks by a team that it seems were always destined to win this year’s premiership.

But, even without the trophy, is what they achieved this year any less of a fairy tale because they could not overcome the final hurdle?

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Gavin Cooper left it all on the field. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Definitely not.

Their run to the grand final stage should never be forgotten. They made it without their fearless leaders in Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott.

They ran all the way to the big dance with a number of players carrying injuries.

They did it from eighth place on the ladder — a spot that they only secured because the Dragons lost to the Bulldogs.

And they certainly went down swinging.

Jason Taumalolo has fulfilled his potential this season. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

In a start that unfortunately summed up North Queensland’s entire season, starting forward Shaun Fensom lasted just three minutes into the match before he fell victim to a horrific leg injury.

The rugby league veteran, who was playing in his first NRL grand final, suffered the suspected broken leg after an accidental collision with teammate Ethan Lowe.

It left the Cowboys one man down in a year when injuries already had them battered and bruised — but never broken.

Many North Queensland fans hoped the loss of Fensom would not break them once again, but it was one hit that came too early in too big of a game.

The young forwards like Coen Hess, John Asiata and Corey Jensen were required to do more work and against the Melbourne pack, that was always going to be a tough ask.

Could it have been different with these two legends? (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The Storm ran out to an 18-0 lead by halftime but the Cowboys marched into the second half determined to fight their way back into the match.

That fight was shown in the 48th minute when Michael Morgan threw a perfectly timed offload to his halves partner Te Maire Martin, with the mid-season recruit dancing his way over the try line.

But the Storm are not like the Sharks or the Eels or the Roosters.

They knew how to force their way back into the game and they did, putting on another three tries in the second half. And just like that, the Cowboys’ season was over.

The fact they didn’t get one last miracle is heartbreaking in some ways for North Queensland. But it does not change what they have done this year.