North Queensland Cowboys’ Johnathan Thurston sinks clutch field goal to down Canberra Raiders

IT took three attempts in the final minute, but Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston has kicked a clutch field goal to sink the Raiders in an absolute nailbiter.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 20: Cowboys players congratulate Antonio Winterstein after he scored a try during the round 15 NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and the North Queensland Cowboys at GIO Stadium on June 20, 2015 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images)

A JOHNATHAN Thurston masterclass has propelled North Queensland to their 11th consecutive NRL win, a 21-20 cliffhanger over Canberra in the nation’s capital.

With Michael Morgan the only player not to back up, the Cowboys’ State of Origin contingent all played strongly in their second game in four days.

Matt Scott was in some doubt in the lead up but came away with a thumping effort and was ably supported by fellow bookend James Tamou.

A shoulder injury prevented Morgan turning out, with the decision not to risk him made just hours before kickoff.

Thurston had a hand in all three Cowboys tries. He also kicked two conversions, two penalty goals and the winning field goal. The side’s other standouts were hooker Jake Granville and fullback Lachlan Coote.

After an 8-6 lead at halftime, Matthew Wright and Gavin Cooper crossed the stripe for the Cowboys to regain a lead which had briefly been pinched from their grasp by a try to Raiders fullback Jack Wighton in the 58th minute.

Jonathan Thurston kicks the match winning field goal.

But with Canberra winger Jordon Rapana taken out in the air, a successful penalty by Jarrod Croker in the 78th minute levelled the score at 20-20, threatening to send the game into golden point. The Cowboys won a scrum 35 metres out following a Raiders mistake and Thurston had two field goal attempts charged down in the final minute of the game.

He finally potted the winner with just seconds remaining.

The Cowboys dominated the first half and, after a Coote grubber earned a repeat set, Antonio Winterstein opened the scoring in the sixth minute in the left corner.

Thurston quickly found his groove, earning another repeat set with only desperate Raiders’ defence preventing points.

Jack Wighton on the attack.

The Cowboys took a penalty shot in the 17th minute.

Canberra hit back with nice hands down the left side for Blake Austin and Croker to combine to send Edrick Lee over. Croker added the extras to level the score at 6-6 in the 23rd minute.

Both teams had first-half tries disallowed, with Coote and Austin denied by the video referee.

Another Thurston penalty on the stroke of halftime broke the deadlock, and the Cowboys headed into the sheds 8-6 up.

The Raiders’ loss leaves them with just one home win in 2015.

NORTH QUEENSLAND 21 (G Cooper A Winterstein M Wright tries J Thurston 4 goals J Thurston field goal) bt CANBERRA 20 (B Austin E Lee J Wighton tries J Croker 4 goals) at GIO Stadium. Referee: Chris Sutton, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 10,170

Originally published as North Queensland Cowboys’ Johnathan Thurston sinks clutch field goal to down Canberra Raiders