Jake Granville leads the way as Cowboys stake their Origin claims
Darren Lockyer said earlier in the week that he would be watching a group of Cowboys to see if they were up for an Origin jersey – and almost all of them delivered against the Eels.
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Cowboys duo Matt Scott and Jake Granville last night rocketed into the Queensland Origin frame as unheralded teammate Tom Opacic conjured some solo magic to break the Eels’ hearts 17-10 in Townsville.
In a see-sawing affair, the Cowboys were in danger of crashing to another home defeat when Michael Morgan threw a nightmare intercept in his 150th game to give Parramatta a 10-6 second-half lead.
But two tries in nine minutes to Kyle Feldt (65th) and Opacic (74th) rescued the Cowboys before Jordan Kahu’s 77th-minute field goal clinched a crucial victory to keep North Queensland in touch with the top eight.
Centre Opacic’s quick thinking was decisive. With scores locked at 10-all with six minutes to play, Opacic capitalised on a Blake Ferguson spilled ball, charging out of dummy-half from the ensuing play to bury the Eels.
The Cowboys now possess a 4-6 record ahead of Saturday’s daunting road trip to face the in-form Raiders at GIO Stadium.
It was a gutsy display by North Queensland, who lost Ben Hampton (bicep) early, and in the process several Cowboys top-liners _ led by Scott and Granville _ submitted claims for Queensland jumpers for Origin I on June 5.
Hooker Granville produced his best game this year, besieged Maroons back-rower Coen Hess ran for a season-high 131 metres and Scott was brutal in midfield as he seeks to end his two-year Origin exile.
“I thought he played really well, his carries were strong and he defended well,” Cowboys coach Paul Green said of Scott.
Feldt also put his hand up for a Queensland wing berth, celebrating his 100th NRL game in style when he crossed in the 65th minute in his second match back from a groin injury.
It was the Cowboys’ power game in the middle-third that broke Parramatta’s spirit.
Scott’s opening quarter smacked of the ruck dominance that made him the code’s pre-eminent prop in the Cowboys’ premiership year of 2015.
‘Thumper’ needed just seven minutes to crash over for a 6-0 lead and he was well supported by hulks Jordan McLean and Jason Taumalolo, who amassed 376m collectively.
Scott’s engine-room cohort Granville was equally impressive.
With the Queensland No.9 jumper up for grabs, Granville was in everything, throwing a clever short ball for Scott’s opening try.
With scores locked 6-all at half-time, the Cowboys needed their main man Morgan to step up, but it was a panic play from the skipper which ignited an Eels fightback.
The second stanza was just two minutes old when Morgan, attacking the tryline, threw a pass straight to Eels rival Josh Hoffman, who raced 90 metres to give the visitors a shock 10-6 lead.
Ultimately, the Cowboys held their nerve, with Opacic personifying the gritty performance with his never-say-die snipe from close range.
“There was plenty of character in that win,” Green said. “It takes a lot of energy to not only get back into the game, but finish it off.”
Originally published as Jake Granville leads the way as Cowboys stake their Origin claims
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