Johnathan Thurston produces two moments of magic to inspire Cowboys’ 20-18 win over Knights

GAVIN Cooper went from zero to hero on Friday night as his partner-in-crime Johnathan Thurston refused to surrender to inspire the Cowboys’ 20-18 boilover of Newcastle in Townsville.

Gavin Cooper scored the match winner after initially having a tough night. (AAP Image/Michael Chambers)

GAVIN Cooper went from zero to hero on Friday night as his partner-in-crime Johnathan Thurston refused to surrender to inspire the Cowboys’ 20-18 boilover of Newcastle in Townsville.

For 77 minutes, Cooper was having the worst game of his NRL career, making three shocking errors on a night where the Knights seized control, leading 18-6 at half-time.

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Gavin Cooper scored the match winner after initially having a tough night. (AAP Image/Michael Chambers)

But ever the champion, Thurston would not wilt, hauling his side back into the contest as the lowly Cowboys produced a stunning fightback to keep the Knights scoreless in the second half.

With his side trailing 18-16 in the dying minutes, Thurston found Te Maire Martin and he released Cooper, who said a silent prayer as he set sail for the match-winner.

Justin O'Neill crosses out wide for the Cowboys. (AAP Image/Michael Chambers)

“I actually pooed my pants when he threw it to me,” Cooper said.

“I said please catch it ... my dropped balls weren’t good enough.”

The victory keeps the 14th-placed Cowboys (12 competition points) one win out of wooden-spoon territory.

Fittingly, Thurston was the difference, having a hand in three tries and scoring one himself to snap the Cowboys’ five-game losing streak.

Kalyn Ponga was strong on his return from an injury lay off. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Cowboys coach Paul Green later hit out at suggestions the club’s greatest player had played one season too many.

“Stats don’t say everything but he (Thurston) is top five in all those attacking stats,” Green said.

“People think because of the player he is we need a ten out of ten game from him every week, but we don’t.

“I’m pleased with how he’s handled that criticism.”

Jason Taumalolo had another typically strong performance. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

The Cowboys were buoyed by the return from injury of key props Matt Scott and Jordan McLean, the latter of whom tallied 32 tackles in a gutsy display.

Early on, North Queensland looked set for another night of pain.

They leaked two tries in the opening seven minutes as Newcastle capitalised on feeble defensive efforts to bolt to a 12-0 lead.

Lachlan Fitzgibbon continued his try scoring form with a double in Townsville. Picture: Alix Sweeney

With the Cowboys facing another rout, it was apt that Thurston - the competitor who never dies - should ignite a second-half riposte.

His 51st minute short ball put Coen Hess over and when Justin O’Neill kicked ahead two minutes later, Thurston pounced to whittle the deficit to 18-16.

The final quarter became a battle of wills. The Cowboys have lost a slew of close matches this season but this time Thurston would not be silenced, giving Cooper a glorious shot at redemption.

NORTH QUEENSLAND 20 (G Cooper C Hess J O’Neill J Thurston tries J Thurston 2 goals) bt NEWCASTLE 18 (L Fitzgibbon 2 A Guerra tries K Sio 3 goals) at 1300SMILES Stadium. Referee: Henry Perenara, Jon Stone. Crowd: 11,709.

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