28-16 defeat to Cronulla leaves North Queensland perilously close to wooden spoon
THE Cowboys have been plunged into a wooden-spoon battle with Parramatta after having their hearts broken by the Sharks in a 28-16 thriller at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Saturday night.
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THE Cowboys have been plunged into a wooden-spoon battle with Parramatta after having their hearts broken by the Sharks in a 28-16 thriller at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Saturday night.
On a night of drama, the Cowboys stuck it to the Sharks, but were left to lament Johnathan Thurston’s inability to land the booming sideline conversion he has nailed so many times in his glittering career.
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This was a Shire slugfest, with North Queensland overcoming the loss of Jason Taumalolo (suspension) and Matt Scott (injury) to stun the Sharks when Gavin Cooper crashed over eight minutes from time.
Needing to land an Origin-style sideline special to level scores at 18-all, Thurston could not deliver more magic, ruing his attempt which sailed wide.
Under the pump all night, the Sharks finally buried the Cowboys, Josh Dugan and Jayson Bukuya scoring in the final four minutes to keep Cronulla’s hopes of a top-four spot intact.
In the process, it consigned the Cowboys to a battle for the spoon with Parramatta this Friday night in the retiring Thurston’s final home game.
Both sides are locked on 14 competition points, but the Cowboys are last on percentages, with their differential (-114) inferior to that of the Eels (-104).
Despite the loss, it was another fighting performance by the Cowboys, who held Cronulla to 6-all at half-time and had their chances to back-up last week’s defeat of the Broncos.
“The effort was there,” Thurston said. “We fought to get ourselves in the game, but we just couldn’t finish it off ... it’s been the story of our year.”
Cowboys coach Paul Green is entitled to have mixed feelings watching his side’s rejuvenation over the past month.
On one hand, he would be proud of his side’s fight. On the other, he must be wondering where their grit and mental fortitude was when their finals hopes were still alive.
It was testament to North Queensland’s attitude that they played with more energy and rhythm than the Sharks in the opening stanza.
While the Cowboys can’t make the finals, their back end of the season has unearthed a promising playmaking talent in Jake Clifford.
Nervous at times, Clifford’s option-taking was better on Saturday night and the 20-year-old’s line break in the 31st minute was evidence of his potential when he backs himself.
The second half became a battle of wills and execution. The Cowboys could sniff blood when Cooper crossed, but in keeping with their season, they failed to close out another tight game.
“They ran with a bit more intent, but the positive is we haven’t clocked off, we are having a go,” Green said.
Full-time CRONULLA 28 (J Bukuya J Dugan A Fifita L Lewis C Townsend tries V Holmes 4 goals) bt NORTH QUEENSLAND 16 (G Cooper C Hess J McLean tries J Thurston 2 goals) at Southern Cross Group Stadium. Referee: Matt Cecchin, Peter Gough. Crowd: 12,270.
Originally published as 28-16 defeat to Cronulla leaves North Queensland perilously close to wooden spoon