Cowboys win golden point thriller over Knights despite Val Holmes struggles

The North Queensland Cowboys have recovered from some blunders to win a golden point thriller to continue a strong start to the season.

Chad Townsend of the Cowboys celebrates after kicking the winning field goal in extra time. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

The North Queensland Cowboys have claimed a golden point thriller 21-20 over Newcastle and on Saturday as they continue to rediscover their 2022 form.

Adding insult to injury was the first-half performance North Queensland served up to 18,986 people at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, before a stunning turnaround stopped the Knights claiming their first win in the region since 2015.

Watch every game of every round this NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

The Cowboys were a completely different team after the break and outscored Newcastle three tries to one to force golden point extra time, setting up the Chad Townsend game-winner.

The usually accurate Valentine Holmes missed two conversions, including one in the final five minutes that would have put the Cowboys up 22-20.

Holmes also missed a drop goal attempt to the right of the sticks in the dying stages, but Townsend nailed the matchwinning field goal in golden point.

Newcastle were far better than their round 1 showing but still have a lot of room for improvement and need to find a way to get their deadly backline more involved in the game.

Kyle Feldt levelled Matt Bowen as the Cowboys’ all-time top tryscorer when Scott Drinkwater floated a harbour bridge pass to the veteran winger, but the outright title will have to wait until at least next Saturday against the Dragons.

Newcastle’s Jack Hetherington left the game early in the second half after picking up an injury before the break.

Val Holmes was struggling but Chad Townsend kicked the matchwinner. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Absolute scenes in golden point. NRL PHOTOS

HOMETOWN HERO LIGHTS UP TOWNSVILLE

Kalyn Ponga almost shrugged off history to give Newcastle its first victory in North Queensland since 2015 after seven straight losses when playing in the region.

The Ignatius Park College graduate had the whole crowd’s attention with every touch and his perfect four goals from four attempts kept the score line ticking over.

The crowd rose with a mighty cheer when the former Cowboy made a shocking unforced error late in the game, opening the door for North Queensland’s late surge.

Ponga finished with a team-high 167m from 22 runs including a try assist, linebreak assist and four broken tackles.

SCRAPPY COWBOYS START SLOW

North Queensland were nothing short of abysmal in the first half in all categories of the game besides goal-line defence – which was also suspect at times.

The Cowboys were held scoreless, made 11 errors and gave away five ruck infringements as they struggled to build any pressure of consistency through the first 40 minutes.

Chad Townsend failed to find touch from a penalty twice, and Newcastle regained both their two line dropouts.

Newcastle lock Adam Elliott scored two tries under the posts but the Knights would have felt like they left points on the park to not have a larger buffer.

It was a stark contrast to round 1 against the Dolphins when they scored five first-half tries to lead 31-12 at the break.

The Knights started strong before the Cowboys fought back. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

BACKROWER DEPTH TO COME UNDER SPOTLIGHT

Heilum Luki left the field about 12 minutes from halftime with concerns around his right ankle and did not return.

“He’s gone straight up the tunnel, it looks like a lower leg injury,” Brent Tate said at the time on Fox League.

It was heartbreaking news for Luki considering his extensive injury history, but it was extra concerning for the club after releasing Luciano Leilua before the season began.

If Luki misses any time, the Cowboys may be forced to bring Jack Gosiewski onto the interchange unless they elect to promote Thomas Mikaele and run a third out-and-out middle forward in the bench rotation.