Cowboys and Panthers produce 30-30 draw in golden point thriller

Both the Cowboys and Panthers felt like they were on the wrong end of poor calls - or non-calls - in their 30-all draw, but it was North Queensland coach Todd Payten who had the most to say post-match.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten made an impassioned plea for more consistency and accountability from NRL referees after his side secured a 30-all draw with Penrith.

Both teams felt like they were on the wrong end of poor calls – or non-calls – but it was the North Queensland mentor that unleashed on officials in the post-match presser.

Payten said he wanted referees to make the correct calls in big moments rather than shying away from potentially game-deciding judgements.

“That’s what they’re paid to do: make the right call at the right time,” Payten said.

“Murray Taulagi got a penalty where the bloke fell into his chest and then Viliame Vailea, less than five minutes later, got his head taken off.

“It was right in front of the touch judge, there was no call there and that was wrong.

“There was also a flop short of the 40m line – any later and it would have been maybe tomorrow. So yeah, (I’m) frustrated.

“We want consistency and we’re not getting it. I’m confused what’s a high shot and what’s not and I’m sure everyone else is.”

Payten said he would lodge formal enquiries about Saturday’s officiating with the NRL but lamented what he saw as a lack of repercussions for those responsible.

“I’ll talk to the NRL through the week, go through the right channels, but it’s just white noise, you know? ‘Yeah, we got that wrong’, but no one’s held accountable for it,” Payten said.

“If it’s my player making error after error, or a couple of howlers, then fair chance he’s not in the team.”

Cowboys captain Tom Dearden said the lack of clarity on rugby league’s stance on high contact was an issue for players and fans alike.

“I think it’s frustrating for the coaches, fans, players as well. I just agree with the coach on that,” Dearden said.

“You just want consistency, and you want the right call at the right time.”

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary had his own concerns with the refereeing after his side was not blown a penalty in the final minutes when it appeared John Bateman took possession from an offside position after it came off Scott Drinkwater’s boot.

Cleary said the potentially game-deciding penalty should not have been missed.

“It was offside, it was obvious,” Cleary said.

“I just want to see them make the calls they should. I think there were at least three kick-pressure penalties we should have got tonight as well – just no-brainers – so that’s disappointing but there were a lot of other calls throughout the game, it just hurts a bit more when you see one that you could have won the game with.”

MATCH REPORT

The Cowboys and Panthers could not be split after 90 thrilling minutes of football, finishing locked up at 30-all after both teams missed their chances to win the game in golden point extra time.

A miraculous Scott Drinkwater charge-down on a Nathan Cleary field goal attempt kept the Cowboys’ hopes alive before Jake Clifford had a chance to win it at the death – but his field goal attempt sailed wide.

The Panthers had been cruising to their fourth win of the season, leading by two converted tries with 10 minutes to play when the Cowboys continued this round’s incredible trend of comebacks.

A brilliant late offload from Jaxon Purdue put Scott Drinkwater into the backfield and the Cowboys fullback found his skipper Tom Dearden in support to score the match-levelling try with just minutes to play.

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said he was disappointed his team couldn’t close out two separate 12-point leads.

“Whenever that happens, you feel a little bit disappointed. I suppose that’s sort of like the weekend of footy we’ve had, and that’s kind of like the way the game goes a bit these days,” Cleary said.

“But honestly, yeah, I feel like we should definitely close it out in the second half. But having said that, once it was 30-all I think we did quite well to not lose.”

Panthers star Blaize Talagi produced an attacking masterclass. Picture: NRL Imagery

Panthers five-eighth Blaize Talagi had put on an attacking masterclass with a try and four try assists, but it wasn’t enough as North Queensland refused to roll over.

The Panthers starved North Queensland of possession with clean and accurate football, but potent attack kept the Cowboys in touch with some spectacular tries against the run of play.

Penrith threatened to blow the game open early, taking an 18-6 lead after half an hour and Todd Payten must have been thanking his lucky stars to only be six points behind at the break after his side displayed shocking discipline defending its own line.

A forgettable night for Derby got even worse with 15 minutes to play when he coughed up possession in his own in-goal – his fifth error of the game – to allow Talagi to score what seemed like the match-sealing try before the incredible comeback.

The Cowboys fought back, with Tom Dearden scoring the try to lock up the scores. Picture: NRL Imagery

BLAIZING SADDLES

Panthers halves Nathan Cleary and Blaize Talagi were at their best and this game was one of their most cohesive alongside first-choice spine members Dylan Edwards and Mitch Kenny.

Penrith’s attack has improved week on week after a sluggish start to the season and 20-year-old Talagi is finding his feet in the new system, setting up all three of his side’s tries in the first half.

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Cleary said the young playmaker was starting to make Penrith’s No.6 jersey his own.

“He’s certainly on the right trajectory. He’s a player where when he gets the ball, both coaches hold their breath,” Cleary said.

“But that’s what we love about him, he just comes into the game and he just gets better all the time.

“He loves playing and he’s a good learner as well, so I’m really enjoying him being part of our team and I’m looking forward to his future.”

DEFENDING ERRORS

Defending your errors is a simple philosophy in rugby league: after making a mistake, you scrap and fight to make up for it with your defence and you make sure your opponents don’t make you pay.

But it was an area of the Cowboys’ game that cost them dearly on Saturday with Penrith’s first two tries coming directly from errors made by North Queensland deep in its own half.

Penrith’s third try – a sublime finish by Garner after an even better Talagi grubber – wasn’t scored immediately after an error, but the Panthers were camped in good territory after Rob Derby spilt the ball.

The Cowboys need to limit the time spent defending their line and they need to be more disciplined when they do it.

MACKAY’S NEXT MAROON?

There’s been plenty of speculation around whether Valentine Holmes or Dane Gagai will get the nod in the centres for Queensland, but is it so far out of the realm of possibility to select some fresh blood in Jaxon Purdue?

The 19-year-old North Queenslander brought the crowd of 19,324 to its feet early in the second half when he burst into the backfield with his speed, but it was his terrific ballplaying on the next tackle to set up Jake Clifford’s try that should really have everyone’s attention.

A late offload to create the space for the Cowboys’ fifth try in late stages of the game was further evidence of the youngster’s match-breaking ability.

A Maroons call-up is a matter of when not if for Purdue, and he could find himself getting his first taste of an Origin camp sooner than some think.

Cowboys coach Todd Payetn has backed Jaxon Purdue to succeed if he was picked for State of Origin. Picture: NRL Imagery

Payten was hesitant to put too much pressure on his young star but said he would do well if selected.

“He’ll play Origin one day, I promise you. But throwing him in right at the moment is probably not the best thing for him long-term,” Payten said.

“But he’s got so much ability. I hope Billy (Slater) takes him in – I’ve heard through the grapevine that there’s consideration about bringing him to a camp across the three games, and that’s probably the right way to do it.

“Is he ready for Origin right at the minute in the centres? I can’t answer that, but he’d do a bloody good job.”